Life Skills, Launched in 2014, Set to Expand … With the Help of Good (for Girls) Friends {Partner Post}

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This article was written by our Partner, the Girls Gotta Run Foundation (GGRF), for the 10th anniversary of our collaboration.

Part of GGRF programs’ strength is that we solicit the input of our Athletic Scholars and their families on a regular basis, and strive to make sure that our program remains responsive to their needs. And from Day 1 of our Life Skills program, we have been supported by partners who have provided long-term engagement.

This year marks our 10th year of collaboration with PROJECT GOOD FOR GIRLS, a small, all-volunteer nonprofit founded by Leigh Pasqual. Leigh and her colleagues share our passion and commitment to giving every girl around the planet access to education and the opportunity to pursue her own dreams.

In 2014, Leigh began a conversation with GGRF’s leadership about providing crucial learning and safe spaces to adolescent girls, using our running groups as an entry point. From that the Life Skills program (aka Girls’ Club) was born in Soddo to complement our Athletic Scholarships. Life Skills is now integral to our programming in both Soddo and Bekoji. In fact, Kathleen Ralls specifically cited Life Skills in her analysis of GGRF’s empowerment success, observing: “A comprehensive program like GGRF is necessary to truly build well-rounded individuals who have the power to change the entire trajectory of their families and communities.”

We will be able to further strengthen our Life Skills, and add exciting new components, thanks to generous support from a new partner, Project Redwood. We will share more about this partnership, and other long-term supporters, later in the summer. 

We are so grateful to Project Good for Girls, who has been a steadfast partner for a decade and has pledged additional support for the launch of  “Life Skills 2.0” this fall. We hope you, too, will be with us for the long haul!

And … Bekoji Kitchen Upgrade Coming!

Project Good for Girls has also been an important supporter, from the beginning, of the Mothers’ Entrepreneurship & Savings Groups in Bekoji. As part of the program there, the mothers are given small grants to shop for ingredients and prepare lunch for the girls in a makeshift kitchen set up at the government school attended by our Athletic Scholars.

The kitchen is quite basic — a covered space with cooking pots on the ground over fire (as seen above) — and the Mothers’ request for an upgrade is also part of our larger plan for expanded Life Skills. 

Be on the lookout for more news and let us know if you would like to join Project Good for Girls in supporting this venture!

Happy New Year from All of Us at Project Good for Girls

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As the year draws to a close we wanted to wish all our dear friends, supporters and well-wishers a great year ahead – thank you for walking this path with us to help level the playing field for disadvantaged girls.

And a BIG thank you to everyone who has contributed to our annual fundraiser! (The campaign will run until Dec 31st just in case anyone still wanted to donate).

And now…a few words from the girls and young women who benefit from your support:

Momtaz Nabizada – Graphic Designer, Herat, Afghanistan

“As a student of graphic design at Code to Inspire (CTI), I can confidently say that it is the best tech education program for girls in Afghanistan. It provided me with a safe and trusted environment, equipped with all the necessary educational facilities. CTI not only prepared me for the professional world but also empowered me to work in Afghanistan or remotely after graduation. CTI has completely transformed my life. I not only became a skilled graphic designer but also had the opportunity to work on several paid projects, earning income for the first time. With an enhanced portfolio and gained experience, CTI opened doors for me that I never imagined possible.” 

Marta – GGRF Athletic Scholar, Bekoji, Ethiopia (pictured below in black blazer)

“My mom died when I was young, so I support myself by making baskets and wall hangings to sell in the market on weekends. But without GGRF, I could not stay in school. I am a runner, but also have other dreams – I want to be a journalist.”