Personal Agency for Girls to overcome Barriers and Live their Dreams

Imagine a world where every woman and girl have the power to shape her own destiny, to break free from the chains of societal limitations, and to create a future filled with endless possibilities. It's a beautiful vision, isn't it? But in reality, we still have a long way to go

Women Inspiration Development Center (WIDC) and Menitos Charity Foundation will continue the scaling of personal agency for more 600 girls to overcome barriers in education, gender equality, abject poverty and gender-based violence in Nigeria.

This initiative is a catalyst for positive change for these girls to break free from their limiting beliefs and embrace their full potentials. It refers to the process of nurturing and enhancing the next generation capacity to make informed choices, assert their rights, and take actions that align with their own goals and aspirations.

It encompasses the cultivation of self-confidence, decision-making skills, and the ability to exert influence over their own lives. The girls become architects of their own future, not merely passive recipients of empowerment efforts and tremendous improvement of their health, finances and self-responsibility. Personal agency is the crucial aspect that often goes unnoticed in our efforts to empower women and girls worldwide: the development of agency which is the capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own choices, the key ingredient that can transform dreams into reality.

We recognize the critical need to empower women to lead social change in various domains, including women development, women's political participation, girls' rights and education, sexual reproductive health, peaceful elections, good governance, and women's rights advocacy.

Despite progress in these areas,” without agency” significant challenges persist, hindering the full realization of women equality and women's empowerment. Globally, women hold only 24% of parliamentary seats and make up a mere 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs. Moreover, an estimated 12 million girls are married off before the age of 18 every year.

Last year, Women Inspiration Development Center started the scaling of personal agency development with Menitos charity Foundations and five other World Pulse Sisters organizations. We worked with 10 NGOs with six of them World Pulse sisters and brother NGOs from 7 states in Nigeria. The project reached 4, 320 girls. These are not just numbers but we have stories of our girls that are thriving as a result of personal agency development.

We have 33 of the girls in high school last year got admission to the university this year which was a huge surprise to the heads of schools where we worked and they are now agitating that agency development should be part of the high school curriculum

Three years ago, Blessing was in Part two in the university when she participated in the personal agency workshop. She was so vulnerable as a result of an abuse she suffered when she was 8 years old. Today she has graduated and have her own NGO advocating against abuse of girls.

Titilola also participated in our personal agency workshop when she was in part two in the university, she wanted to drop out of school as a result of poverty. After the workshop, she decided to learn a skill that was fetching her money and last year, she graduated with a first-class honour; she has her own NGO now and she is also serving with a bigger NGO to gather more experience in running her own very well.

Ayomide received personal agency 3 years ago and during the 2024 Day of Girl Child, she raised fund to supply sanitary pads to 500 high school girls in her place of assignment.

These are great things doing by the girls who were once vulnerable, they are already imparting lives as they take hold of their lives. We want to birth more confident girls in Nigeria so that we can bring gender-based violence to a barest minimum, have more women in leadership positions, conquered poverty and bring tangible development to Nigeria.

This initiative strives to be more than just a delivery agency; it aims to be a catalyst for positive

change in the lives of disenfranchised women and girls we envision a future where every woman and girl can break free from the constraints of disenfranchisement and embrace their full potential. And we hope to scale this globally

Key Features of the Initiative:

Safe and Inclusive Delivery Services:

We will ensure safe and inclusive delivery services that prioritize the well-being of the girls. Our team is exclusively composed of women and girls that have faced disenfranchisement, and who will be offering the girls a supportive environment to rebuild their lives.

Education generation of Girls Empowerment Programs:

We believe in the power of education and skill-building to empower women and girls. Our empowerment programs will include workshops, training sessions, and mentorship opportunities aimed at developing leadership skills, boosting self-confidence, and fostering a sense of independence in the girls.

Voice Amplification Campaigns:

We will run campaigns that highlight the stories and experiences of the women and girls in our delivery team. By sharing their journeys, challenges, and successes, we aim to inspire others facing similar situations, breaking the silence surrounding disenfranchisement.

Community Engagement Initiatives:

We will actively engage with local communities to create awareness about the importance of empowering disenfranchised women and girls. Through partnerships with schools, community centers, and NGOs, we will strive to create a supportive ecosystem that encourages these individuals to dream big and pursue their goals.

Dream Fulfillment Sponsorships:

Women inspiration Development Center and Menitos Charity Foundation will collaborate with businesses, organizations, and individuals interested in supporting the dreams of disenfranchised women and girls. Through sponsorships, scholarships, and resources, we aim to remove barriers to education, career opportunities, and personal development.

Online Platform for Advocacy:

We have created an online platform that serves as a hub for advocacy, storytelling, and resource-sharing. This platform enables women and girls to connect with each other, share their experiences, and access valuable resources that can aid in their personal and professional development. As more girls are joining us, they will be added to this platform. We are also planning to create an app and publish it for this initiative to reach a wider audience.

Expected Outcome

Increased confidence of women and girls

Improved Girl Child Education

More justice for survivors of Gender Based Violence

Reduced crime

Gender equality and equity

Enhanced leadership of Women and girls

Improved standard of living and well-being of women and girls.

Estimated budget

Training materials for 600 participants @$1 per participants- $600

Trainers Stipends = $300

mentorship online of 600 participants for a year = $240

Building of app and publications = $450

Total Budget = 1,590

www.womeninspirationdevelopmentcenter.com.ng

https://web.facebook.com/widcenter