Welcome to the Project Good for Girls 2026 Annual Appeal.We’re so glad you’re here! Your contribution will support two organizations empowering girls and young women through education, skills development, and opportunity.

DONATE HERE: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/project-good-for-girls-annual-fundraiser–2026

A. Our partner organization in Ethiopia, Girls Gotta Run Foundation (GGRF) – to continue strengthening their vocational skills initiatives to empower adolescent girls who are alumni of GGRF’s athletic scholars programme. While some girls hope to continue their education after graduating high school, others have dreams of becoming entrepreneurs. The skills projects are already showing some success, allowing girls to continue avoiding early marriage, complete their schooling and start income-generating activities. GGRF’s vocational training is helping them develop the necessary skills they need to start small businesses such as sewing and needlework, hairdressing, and shopkeeping (all based on requests from the girls themselves). Read about six teenagers who are now running their own sewing studio.

B. Our new partner – City Living New York (CLNY) – to provide gift cards for the holidays to 64 young women, who are aging out of the New York City foster care system. About a third of this group are young mothers, so we hope to also cover additional gift cards for their children. The holidays can be a challenging, lonely time for young people just leaving the foster system, and we hope that this effort will lift them up and remind them that they are not alone.

“Receiving holiday and birthday cards from CLNY makes me feel remembered, appreciated, and supported. It means a lot to know that CLNY takes the time to recognize special moments in my life. The cards also bring a positive feeling and remind me that I am part of a community that cares about me.”

A young client from clny

WHO IS OUR PARTNER – GIRLS GOTTA RUN FOUNDATION?

In Ethiopia, where GGRF operates, although 95% of girls begin their education, only about 20% complete secondary school and just a tiny fraction go on to tertiary education. Child marriage, where girls are married off before age 18 (often right when they hit puberty) is a serious issue. Once a girl is married, her access to education and peer networks ceases, and motherhood follows soon after despite the girl still being a child herself.

GGRF’s mission – through athletics and life skills – is to increase the number of girls staying in school, while also increasing their self-confidence, access to economic assets, and control over life choices. In Bekoji and Sodo, over 175 girls participate in the programme receiving full athletic scholarships which provide tuition, exam fees, school lunches, school uniforms and hygiene supplies, full running gear, life-skills education, and access to showers and laundry. Medical subsidies are also provided for each girl and her mother. The athletic scholars meet three times per week to run as a team and train under the direction of their Coach. Their schedule allows them to train without sacrificing the time they need for homework and family obligations. The Girls Gotta Run teams also compete in local races annually. Some girls have even started competing at the national level!

2026 marks the 20th anniversary of GGRF. Since the launch of its athletic scholars programme, thousands of girls have directly benefited.

• 100% of girls who completed the programme have delayed marriage and childbirth (before 18 or before completing secondary school).
• 89% of girls have taken on leadership roles in their communities.
• 98% have finished or are on track to finish secondary school, and several have gone on to college and tertiary vocational studies.
• More than 1,400 community members are reached annually, including parents, siblings, and community members.

Project Good for Girls is proud to have been a partner for the last 12 years, and we’re not stopping! We will continue to help expand support for adolescent girls both joining the programme, and as alumni so they can continue with their studies, develop important life and vocational skills, and become leaders in their communities.

WHO IS OUR NEW PARTNER – CITY LIVING NEW YORK?

Founded in 2010, CLNY helps fill the transition support gap many foster youth experience when they leave foster care, as they take on the responsibilities of adulthood, but without a reliable network of adult support. City Living NY works with young people (about 75% young women) as they make this transition (typically around age 21, but also starting at age 18), helping them find stable housing, make a home, and pursue their goals.

For two to three years, CLNY’s social workers offer consistent, individualized support as participants adjust to living independently and paying rent. Together, they address challenges, set education and employment goals, and connect with counseling, job training, and other resources. Participants then graduate to an Alumni Program, where they can continue to receive support and stay connected. There is a dedicated education fund for those with education goals, as well as an emergency fund to help clients deal with unexpected, immediate challenges so they can regain lost footing. Since several beneficiaries are also young parents, the organization also provides much-needed parenting support, helping them access child care, essentials for their children, and navigating challenges as they arise.