Girls’ Empowerment
We proudly support a cadre of community leaders and activists working for gender equity and equal rights in Petit Trou. The Girls’ Empowerment and Mentoring (GEM) program, founded in 2016 brings together various community institutions to shed light on issues of gender equality and to proactively provide mentorship, training, and education to girls and young women. This initiative has reached young women across the community of Petit Trou and created dialogue and action on girls’ empowerment, including the importance of equal access to education, female health education, vocational training, economic independence, and community support around issues of gender-based violence and the restavek practice.
In partnership with Haitian expert organization Repanse Pouvwa (“rethink power”) and its international partner, Beyond Borders, Locally Haiti has funded training and salary support for twelve dedicated staff, including eight mentors who implement girls’ empowerment programming in three area schools.
Activities have included after-school programming, summer camps for both girls and boys, and introductory training for health workers in the area. In addition, two local activists, Rica and Davidson, implement community-wide education and awareness raising campaigns. These trainings, clubs, and programs, provide information, safe spaces, tools for self-advocacy, and access to a network of supportive women and men for girls across the community. More than 250 girls currently participate in the GEM clubs, and many more gain access to general information and education.
“Girls in our area need us. We not only work with them on practical skills and education, but we also actually listen to them, spend time with them, and create trust.”
