Empowering girls to 'reclaim their futures'

WSC: Tell us a bit about the SKILLZ Girl program...

AY: It is an evidence-based intervention for girls aged 13-19, that educates and empowers them with key information to make healthy choices about their sexual and reproductive health and rights, while developing their leadership and life skills.

 

Since its inception in 2011, YEDI has reached more than 458,560 beneficiaries. Through the partnership with Grassroot Soccer, YEDI implemented the SKILLZ program to equip young people in Nigeria with knowledge, confidence and services to lead healthy lives. 

 

The SKILLZ program is a product of Grassroot Soccer, an organization that began in 2002 after a group of former professional footballers – Dr. Tommy Clark, Methembe Ndlovu, Ethan Zohn and Kirk Friedrich –developed and piloted, with support from consultants and local stakeholders, an interactive, soccer-themed, HIV-prevention curriculum, that was first used in Zimbabwe. 

 

SKILLZ is Grassroot Soccer’s signature curriculum-based approach to adolescent engagement. 

 

The programs leverage soccer, caring near-peer mentors called ’coaches’, and a fun and supportive culture, to create safe spaces, in which young people can learn about important health topics and establish healthy behaviors that last into adulthood.

 

Grassroot Soccer and YEDI have, so far, trained more than 1,396 mentor coaches, who, in turn, have reached more than 377,000 young people across the states of Lagos, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Rivers and Abuja.

 

WSC: How have you reached these people?

AY: The program is delivered to girls in both in-school and out-of-school settings, across under-served communities, in collaboration with relevant community stakeholders, to pave the way for inclusivity.

 

The aim is to encourage healthy childhood development within these hard-to-reach communities and promoting a safe environment for every child to thrive and have a shot at life.

 

 

WSC: What does the SKILLZ Girl program include and how many girls have been involved so far?

AY: The program involves the use of soccer language, metaphors, and activities to enable reflections around gender norms, goal-setting and achievement, and supports adolescent girls and young women to navigate health services. 

 

Participants can expect a SKILLZ program that reflects their needs, interests and behaviors, while strengthening their sexual and reproductive health and rights and life-skills assets. 

 

In partnership with Grassroot Soccer, YEDI has delivered the SKILLZ Girl program to more than 52,000 adolescent girls and young women in Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Rivers, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja).

WSC: What benefits has this given them and what has the feedback been like?

AY: The program helps to ignite and illuminate the path for adolescent girls to make informed, confident decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and rights, fostering a comprehensive understanding of their bodies, rights, and choices.

 

By equipping girls with essential knowledge, information and skills, the program empowers them to navigate complex issues around cultural norms, intimidation, and abuse.

 

This enables girls to cultivate vital life skills, safeguarding themselves against harmful practices, gender-based violence, and discrimination.

 

Ultimately, SKILLZ Girl is reinforcing and strengthening a generation of resilient, informed and fearless young women, who can reclaim their futures and shape a brighter tomorrow.

 

 

WSC: Why is it so important to have this dedicated program available within your community?

AY: The SKILLZ Girl program reflects the needs, interests, and behaviors of young girls, while strengthening their sexual and reproductive health and rights and life-skills assets.

 

Female coaches deliver the evidence-based and age-appropriate SKILLZ Girl curriculum.

 

They are trained to create a safe space to mentor and engage adolescent girls in meaningful discussions about family planning, reproductive health, HIV, risk reduction, gender-based violence, and substance misuse.

 

Two independent evaluations of SKILLZ Girl showed improvement in female participants’ self-esteem, self-confidence, disclosure and reporting of violence, gender-equitable norms, and sexual and reproductive health and rights service uptake.

 

 

WSC: What are the future plans for the SKILLZ Girl program? Do you want to take it to other communities?

AY: We will continue collaborating with key community stakeholders and partners to expand the SKILLZ Girl program’s reach.

 

There are more under-served communities that we have already identified and mapped for intervention.

 

Our plans also involve continuously monitoring and assessing program effectiveness to inform data-driven improvements, and exploring innovative funding models and partnerships to secure long-term program viability.