Implementing Multiple Gender Strategies to Improve HIV and ... - ICRW

and then attachment period, in which they observe and learn from an
alumni leader of an established Safe Spaces group. Once ready, they
identify a safe meeting place in the community and recruit and form
their group. Alumni members receive monthly stipends and are
supervised by the Binti Pamoja program coordinator and two part-time
field officers, who are also Binti Pamoja alumni. To date, the Safe
Spaces program has 18 groups and almost 400 girls.
• Binti Pamoja’s program structure has been put forth as a model through
the Kenya adolescent girls learning network (in partnership with
Population Council).
• The program’s Financial Literacy Curriculum is being adapted to local
contexts in Bolivia, Peru, Morocco, Nepal, and Uganda, and will serve
as the basis for a universal financial literacy curriculum for youth.
LESSONS LEARNED AND CHALLENGES
Key Findings and
Lessons
• The program initially focused on reproductive health and HIV
leadership-building. However, it became clear that girls needed help in
other areas, such as economic empowerment skills and scholarships.
• A safe space allows adolescent girls not only to learn important health
information, but also to take on leadership roles, develop self-esteem
and build communication skills.
• It is important to address the issues that girls face in the context of their
own experiences, feelings and opinions. For example, when having a
workshop on HIV prevention, it is important to answer questions
participants have submitted (often anonymously is best), so that you
are speaking directly to their experiences and not just hypothetically.
Challenges and
Unforeseen
Outcomes
Recommendations
for Replication
• Initial funding was a challenge, as was the ability to address the
multitude of issues that girls experienced.
• Youth have to be interested in being involved and eventually taking on
leadership positions. There needs to be buy-in from the youth.
• The program requires facilitators with substantive expertise, training
and experience leading youth programs in comparably challenging
communities.
• Funding is necessary, particularly in the initial phase.
• The support of the community is necessary for sustainability. It may not
come immediately and certainly can be one of the biggest challenges of
the program, but is essential to making an impact.
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