CHAPTER: ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

Envision a world brimming with infinite possibilities for women and girls - a world where they are wholeheartedly supported to unlock their fullest potential and actively contribute to their communities and the economic prosperity of their nations. For the past three decades, FAWE has steadfastly dedicated itself to empowering women, enabling them to pursue their dreams of education and equipping them with the skills to excel in all facets of life. Together, let us continue to forge ahead, nurturing a future where every woman’s aspirations know no bounds. This chapter highlights activities undertaken in 2022 with regard to programme implementation.

FAWE Scholars Perform Exemplary in School

With immense pride, FAWE finds itself in the final stretch of its dedicated support for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme. Embarked upon nearly a decade ago, this transformative journey has left behind a trail of countless achievements in Ethiopia and Rwanda.

In July 2022, the last cohort in Ethiopia successfully completed their education, while their Rwandan counterparts achieved the same milestone in 2023. Presently, among the 838 scholars in Rwanda, an inspiring total of 597 young women are pursuing their university studies. Similarly, in Ethiopia, out of the initial 800 enrolled, only one remarkable young woman remains at the secondary school level.

In Rwanda, March 2022 witnessed the graduation of 53 students from INES Ruhengeri, with an exceptional eight scholars earning high-class honours in diverse programs, opening up new doors of opportunities for them. Notably, three of these scholars were awarded tutorial assistantships in computer science at INES Ruhengeri.

Since the inception of the tertiary scholarship, a total of 95 Rwandan scholars have proudly graduated. Furthermore, on 2nd December 2022, an additional 179 scholars celebrated their welldeserved graduation, with 51 of them already securing employment.

In Ethiopia, out of the 182 scholars who completed their grade 12 exams in 2021, an impressive 151 passed and became eligible for university in 2022. However, only 118 of these remarkable individuals qualified for government sponsorship. Nevertheless, the 30 alumni who did not qualify for government funding were bestowed with the esteemed alumni entrepreneurship grant, empowering them to establish small businesses either individually or in groups. A cohort of 197 scholars from cohort 5 proudly graduated from secondary school in November 2022, marking a significant achievement.

As we approach the culmination of this extraordinary journey, we reflect upon the countless triumphs that have been realized, nurturing a sense of profound gratitude and hope for the bright futures that lie ahead for these exceptional individuals.

Education and Leadership Opportunities for All

The Higher Education Access Program (HEAP) is an eight-year initiative aimed at providing educational opportunities and leadership development to 300 young women and men hailing from economically disadvantaged regions of Uganda. Its overarching goal is to facilitate their access to higher education or assist them in securing employment in sectors that contribute to the development of their communities and the country. Within the framework of the HEAP program, a total of 334 students (128 males and 206 females) are currently receiving support. Notably, in March 2022, 14 students from Jinja School of Nursing and Midwifery successfully graduated. We take immense pride in announcing that a FAWE scholar emerged as the top-performing student across the university. Furthermore, in May 2022, an additional 15 scholars graduated from Mbarara Institute of Science and Technology, with three of them achieving first-class honours. To date, a total of 133 students have successfully graduated under the HEAP programme.

FAWE/MASTERCARD FOUNDATION SCHOLARS LAUDED FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE WHILE AT INES-RUHENGERI

By FAWE Rwanda

FAWE Rwanda joyfully commemorated the remarkable achievements of its inaugural cohort of graduands, who were participants of the Mastercard Foundation scholarship programme. This momentous occasion took place during the 13th graduation ceremony of INES Ruhengeri, where a grand total of over 800 students were conferred degrees on March 11, 2022.

The graduation included 53 FAWE/Mastercard Foundation scholars out of whom 28 were from cohort one and 25 from cohort two.

UKWITEGETSE Gikumi, who was awarded Rwf 1 million as a top performer in her faculty, graduated in Computer science and has been the 1st in her class for three consecutive years up to graduation. Speaking to Top Africa News, she extended her gratitude to FAWE Rwanda for the support along her schooling journey from high school to university.

Three other scholars namely Byukusenge Joselyne, Umutoni Yolanda, and Irakoze Dinah have already started a professional internship at INES Ruhengeri and shall be Tutorial assistants at the university.

Speaking on behalf of INES Ruhengeri, Father Hagenimana Fabien, the Vice-Chancellor, expressed how the presence of FAWE scholars at the university has brought about transformative changes. He acknowledged that the university was not accustomed to receiving such a significant number of high-performing students from secondary schools.

Graduates of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars program listen to the proceedings during the graduation ceremony on 11th March 2022 at Ines Ruhengeri.

“Normally in Rwanda, the best performers in secondary school receive government scholarships to the university of Rwanda or to Rwanda polytechnic then private institutions tend to receive either those who say no to the scholarship or those who have sponsors. It’s not really easy for private universities to get the best performers from secondary school.” Said Father Fabian.

He added that “FAWE scholars have been a catalyst because, since their arrival at the university, they changed the whole environment as they brought positive competition and today, the science department which was formerly dominated by male students, is now dominated by females. And that’s why you have seen that girls came among the best performers who were awarded during the graduation ceremony.”

Another chance at university education

Launched in 2019 as a partnership between FAWE Uganda and the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), the Higher Education Access Certificate (HEAC) has been a game changer for many students in Uganda. The curriculum is thoughtfully crafted to establish a strong academic foundation, nurture essential skills, and foster positive attitudes among students through innovative teaching and learning experiences. It is a condensed and immersive programme specifically designed to support students who may not meet the assumed knowledge prerequisites of a course or who may feel uncertain about their preparedness for university studies. As such, it serves as an additional pathway to access higher education in Uganda, ensuring greater inclusivity and opportunities for students.

Initially, at the inception of the programme, only three universities (Gulu, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, and Busitema) were selected as pilot institutions for HEAC. Fast forward five years, and we are proud to announce that four additional universities (Kabale, Muni, Lira, and Mountains of the Moon) have embraced HEAC. Further, three other universities (Ndeje, Soroti, and Kyambogo) have expressed their keen interest in adopting HEAC. As of now, a total of 554 students, including 60 students supported by FAWE, have enrolled in HEAC across the seven universities. Worth noting, the National Council for Higher Education in Uganda has officially recognized HEAC as the fourth pathway to degree and diploma courses, alongside direct entry, diploma, and mature entry options.

Scholarship Entrepreneurship Fund (SEF)

FAWE in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation continues to support scholars excel in their entrepreneurship journeys. Following a monitoring visit conducted in February 2022, it was observed that 43 scholars’ projects are already witnessing profits and economic gains. A few of the agricultural projects are still in the production stage. Additionally, 1 student working on the processing of soybeans and Tofu was awarded $5000 through the prestigious Resolution Fellow grant under Mastercard Foundation along with lifelong membership to the fellowship.

In honour of International Youth Skills Day on July 15, 2022, FAWE RS and FAWE Rwanda joined forces to organize a two-day event on July 14 and 15, 2022. The event took place at the Rwanda Career Women’s Centre and saw the participation of 25 SEF beneficiaries and alumni. During the event, the participants received training on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for economic empowerment and were mentored on entrepreneurial skills. The event served as a platform to showcase FAWE’s impactful initiatives in youth skilling, fostering new and continued partnerships with like-minded stakeholders such as Digital Opportunity Trust Rwanda and Harambee.

Commonwealth Scholarships

In 2023, a total of 52 candidates nominated by FAWE had the honour of applying for postgraduate scholarships through the Commonwealth Secretariat. Among them, 22 outstanding individuals were awarded the prestigious scholarship. Looking ahead, FAWE has initiated the call for applications for the 2023 scholarships, and we are proud to announce that we will be submitting a list of 52 nominees from 10 different countries for consideration. We extend our heartfelt wishes to each and every scholar, hoping for their academic journeys to be filled with success and fulfilment.

NORAD Project on Youth Sustained Business Start-ups

The project implemented in Mali and Zanzibar successfully closed in March 2022. The project documentary can be accessed via the following link: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=bB3Ng5zdTP4

Ford Foundation Tamatisha!

Tamatisha! (Meaning to bring to an end) in Swahili, is a programme between FAWE and the Ford Foundation that aims at empowering teenagers to curb early pregnancies. Implementation is being done by FAWE Kenya and Ewang’an Nadede Advocacy Initiatives (ENAI –Africa). A baseline survey concluded and validated by key stakeholders in August 2022 affirmed that the number of teen pregnancies in Kenya rose in 2019-2020 due to Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions. In February and August 2022, key stakeholders in Narok, Nairobi, Machakos, Nakuru and Kajiado county converged to discuss on the importance of community social accountability on policy implementation. The stakeholders committed to support the project’s course in championing for proper implementation of SRHR policies at county level. Further, Technical Working Groups (TWGs) were formulated in the 5 implementing counties. The TWGs are working on ensuring county integrated development plans are gender responsive.

ENAI-Africa hosted a three-day youth mentorship workshop in April 2022 where 250 adolescents were sensitized on SRHR and curbing teen pregnancy. In June 2022, 10 schools in 5 counties were mapped to be considered for Centres of Excellence (CoE) transformation. Subsequently, in September 2022, 150 teachers and Parents-Teachers Association members from the 10 partnering schools were trained on the concept of COE.

Furthermore, Tuseme clubs have been established in the 10 schools to provide essential psychosocial support to the students. Currently, there are 684 students who are active members of these clubs. In addition, Peer-to-Peer mentorship has reached out to 5127 students, serving as indirect beneficiaries of the clubs. FAWE Kenya has also forged partnerships with local media stations to raise awareness and sensitize communities about the prevention of teenage pregnancies and the importance of school re-entry for teenage mothers.

Imarisha Msichana Program

Under the new name “Imarisha Msichana!” (formerly known as Dedisha!), the program underwent a rebranding in 2022 to reflect its essence, which means “Build Up the Girl” in English. The two-year program, funded by the Mastercard Foundation, was officially launched on June 28, 2022. It aims to combat teenage pregnancy in Kenya and is currently being implemented in 20 counties across the nation: Nakuru, Nairobi, Machakos, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kiambu, Garissa, Bungoma, Kakamega, Nyeri, Migori, Murang’a, Kajiado, Narok, Homa-Bay, TransNzoia, Nyandarua, Busia, Meru, Siaya, and Turkana.

Recruitment of the necessary personnel was completed in 2022, and inception activities began promptly thereafter. Mapping of the 160 participating schools across the 20 counties has been successfully accomplished, with a baseline survey scheduled for completion in January 2023.

Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) launches new programme to help reduce incidences of teenage pregnancy in Kenya

Tagline: Her education, her future!

On June 28, 2022, the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) launched an innovative program aimed at making substantial progress in reducing the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Kenya. This groundbreaking initiative, known as Imarisha Msichana (which translates to “Build her up/Strengthen the girl”), is currently being implemented in 20 counties across Kenya. These counties include Nakuru, Nairobi, Machakos, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kiambu, Garissa, Bungoma, Kakamega, Nyeri, Migori, Murang’a, Kajiado, Narok, Homa-Bay, Trans-Nzoia, Nyandarua, Busia, Meru, Siaya, and Turkana.

Teenage pregnancies persist as a significant and ongoing challenge in Kenya, carrying substantial economic, health, and social implications. Not only does this issue rob young girls of their childhood, but it also presents a formidable obstacle to their ability to fully realize their potential and contribute meaningfully to the social, economic, and political development of the nation.

Speaking during the launch event held in Nairobi, Kenya, FAWE Africa’s Executive Director Ms. Martha Muhwezi said, “Teenage pregnancy continues to be one of the key hinderances to girl child education in Africa in as whole and Kenya in particular. We have seen instances whereby girls get pregnant and never resume their education. This perpetuates a vicious cycle of poverty. As FAWE, we endeavour to ensure that girls get equal opportunities at not only education but also in their social and professional lives to achieve their full potential.”

The programme will run for the period of two years, June 2022 to June 2024. The main partners are teen mothers/adolescents ages of 9 to 18 years and young women aged 19 to 25 years. In the framework of this programme, young girls will be provided with useful knowledge and necessary skills to be able to fully transition to adulthood and help them become productive members of their communities.

“We have chosen this age group because they are young and therefore at risk of missing out on a bright future. It is possible and it has been proven before that a teenage mother can resume her studies and excel in her academics.” Said Ms. Terry Otieno, CEO, FAWE Kenya.

Also speaking during the event and representing Dr. Julius Jwan, Permanent Secretary, Early Learning and Basic Education, Ms. Evelyn Owoko, Ministry of Education Policy and Partnership East Africa Community Affairs said, “We still need to work harder to empower the girl child. Let us remember SDG 4 which talks about lifelong learning and leaving no one behind. Re-entry policies such as the ones advocated by FAWE are key in achieving education for all. As the Ministry, we support organizations in their endeavour to support education.”

The Imarisha Msichana program activities will include collaboration with key stakeholders in generating credible and acceptable data on teenage pregnancies in Kenya that will advise on apt solutions; champion for re-entry of girls to school, sensitization forums for girls, young women, boys, young men, parents, community leaders on human sexuality and prevention of teenage pregnancy and early marriages, media advocacy programmes, and awards of FAWE gender equality ambassadors.

This would entail investing in adolescent girls and young women in the select counties to grow and effectively participate in their society. The selection will also include specific targeting of adolescent girls with disability and displaced/refugee girls. These girls will be consulted on the proposed solutions and where applicable participate in the implementation of the project. The girls will be introduced to FAWE’s Tuseme youth empowerment programme that enables female youth empowerment and gender awareness by enhancing girls’ self-esteem, leadership, social and life skills, and promotes a positive attitude amongst boys towards girls’ education. Tools of empowerment will include usage of existing Tuseme Manual to establish Tuseme Clubs in participating schools.

Echidna Giving Phase II

The Echidna Giving II program, focused on strengthening institutional capacity, concluded in September 2022. FAWE is now preparing for the 3rd phase of the program after receiving approval for the application. In this new phase, FAWE will collaborate with four chapters. In July 2022, FAWE RS staff travelled to Liberia to provide support to the chapter. Activities included conducting Gender Responsive Pedagogy (GRP) training for 40 stakeholders, facilitating elections during the General Assembly, and conducting an induction for the new board. The aim is for the newly trained trainers to share their knowledge with others for the promotion of gender-responsive learning in Liberia.

FAWE organized a webinar on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, providing a platform for knowledge sharing and mentorship between female practitioners and young girls and women interested in various STEM disciplines. Similarly, FAWE hosted a webinar on International Women’s Day, featuring women from diverse backgrounds and fields sharing their experiences and testimonies on breaking barriers within their areas of influence.

Additionally, the project supported the FAWE donor roundtable held in July, which was attended by at least 15 partners. The discussions during the session offered an opportunity for FAWE to showcase its work to partners and gain insights into their strategic focus for the year 2022.

Sexual and reproductive rights for all Make Way

Make Way is a five-year program operating in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia. Its primary objective is to empower vulnerable young people by promoting their rights, enhancing access to accurate information, and improving services. The program focuses on lobbying and advocating for the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of vulnerable young individuals.

On September 30, 2022, FAWE made its debut in Uganda as a strategic partner organization of the SRHR Alliance. This partnership will facilitate the implementation of the Make Way program in Uganda. In August 2022, FAWE took the lead in developing the Meaningful Youth Engagement guide. This guide will be adopted by FAWE RS and FAWE NC staff through a series of capacity-building sessions scheduled for the fourth quarter.

Similarly, aimed at combating teen pregnancy and child marriage, the Break Free! Alliance programme conducted an outcome harvesting exercise in Kenya and Ethiopia to evaluate the success and progress towards the program outcome at the national and regional level. The Kenyan consortium team held a training on child safeguarding which was identified as a key gap in the outcome harvesting review. Additionally, FAWE, Rozaria Memorial Trust and SRHR Africa Trust (SAT) hosted an event during the voluntary national review of the SDGs to lobby for increased youth participation in regional processes and better education financing as schools recover from COVID.

The report can be accessedvia https://fawers-my. sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/jkhamati_fawe_org

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Further, the regional consortium held a side event on youth engagement in SDGs during the African voluntary review on SDGs. FAWE’s role on the event was to set out status on implementation of SDG 4 .

Recognizing the utmost importance of incorporating youth participation in project activities, the Break Free consortium partners organized the first in a series of youth meetings from June 9th to 11th, 2022. This meeting specifically focused on engaging young people and brought together participants from Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan. The gathering aimed to facilitate learning and exchange of experiences related to youth engagement in their respective countries. During the event, FAWE delivered a presentation on youth engagement at the African Union and the East African Community.

As the lead organization of the Kenya country consortium, the programme actively promoted Meaningful Youth Engagement (MYE). In collaboration with the Make Way Programme, the program co-hosted an MYE training in Nairobi in October. Additionally, the program provided support for the MYE youth workshop held in Niamey, Niger from November 8th to 10th. Furthermore, the programme contributed to the development of the AU goodwill ambassador report on child marriage and participated in the subsequent validation meeting.

Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE)

The baseline survey under the SHARE project kicked off in July 2022 and data collection was conducted in Uganda and Ghana allowing for implementation of Year 1 activities to begin. The SHARE consortium conducted a training on 6th October 2022 on utilization of Teams as a document sharing tool.

Right To Play, FAWE, FHI 360 and WaterAid launch SHARE project to support sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescent youth.

The Sexual and Reproductive Education (SHARE) project is being implemented in a consortium led by Right To Play in partnership with the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), and WaterAid, with technical support from FHI360. It aims to advance gender equality by improving access to sexual and reproductive education and genderresponsive health care for young people, especially girls and young women. The five-year project will take an intersectional approach to equipping young people to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. It will support youth to keep themselves safe from disease, avoid early or unwanted pregnancies, and become advocates for their own health, well-being and rights.

“In this day and age, we cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand regarding the sexual and reproductive health rights of girls and young women. The stakes are too high and the price too heavy to bear unless we act effectively. The time to address the elephant in the room and act accordingly is now,” says Martha Muhwezi, Executive Director, FAWE Africa.

SHARE is supported by the Government of Canada and funded by Global Affairs Canada. It is part of the historic $325-million commitment Canada made when it hosted the Women Deliver conference in 2019, an investment that is promoting gender equality and the health and rights of women and girls and supporting the realization of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy. The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, initially announced support for the SHARE project at the Canadian Conference on Global Health in November 2021.

Though progress has been made in recent years to reduce the systemic barriers marginalized groups face in realizing their sexual and reproductive rights, more work is needed. A 2020 study conducted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 57 countries found that only 55% of girls and women feel they’re empowered to make decisions and exercise their reproductive rights . This lack of autonomy puts them at increased risk of unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and dangerous childbirth . In Ghana, the rate of adolescent pregnancies climbed from 10% in 2008 to 30% in 2017, with an additional increase starting in 2020 due to the COVID-19 lockdowns.

In Mozambique, almost half of girls will be married before they turn 18, and one in 10 will be married before the age of 15. In Uganda, the rate of child marriage is slightly lower, with 40% of girls getting married before 18; in recent years, the proportion of underage pregnancies (15-19 years old) has increased to 25%.

Drawing on project partners’ respective areas of expertise, the consortium will work with young adults, teachers, educators, local health workers, as well as community and government partners to increase access to sexual and reproductive health education and to gender-responsive health services for youth, especially girls and young women.

Right To Play will use over two decades of experience protecting, educating and empowering children through the power of play to equip mentors and teachers with the training they need to provide young people with evidence-based information about sexual and reproductive health through experiential learning activities in schools.

“We are proud to support youth, especially girls and young women, to build knowledge and confidence that will help them make fact-based decisions about their reproductive health,” says Susan McIsaac, CEO, Right To Play International. “Using our engaging, play-based approach to learning, we will work with our expert partners FAWE, FHI 360, and WaterAid to address the systemic barriers that keep youth from claiming their health-related human rights and empower them to become advocates for their own health.”

FAWE, will focus on advocacy and policy engagement to ensure adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health rights become a reality.

Equipping Trainers of Trainers (TOTs) with Training Skills EDUFAM

It is the right of every learner to study in a safe and genderresponsive environment. This enables them to feel confident, peaceful, and able to fully express themselves while pursuing education. FAWE, in collaboration with EDUFAM, conducted TUSEME and COE trainings in April and May/June 2022 respectively, in Burundi, DRC, and Rwanda. These trainings involved 90 education stakeholders, including teachers, head teachers, officials from the Ministry of Education, and representatives from FAWE chapters.

In July, GRP training was provided to 70 TVET stakeholders, with 30 participants in Rwanda and 40 in Burundi. However, due to insecurity in DRC, the GRP4TVET training was postponed and took place in November 2022, involving 40 TVET stakeholders. As a result of these trainings, participants developed action plans that are currently being implemented in partner schools and TVET institutions. The implementation of these plans is being monitored by Maison Shalom, Collectif des Associations et ONG Féminines du Burundi (CAFOB), and the Union of the Collectives of Women’s Associations of the

Great Lakes Region (COCAFEM), who serve as the project’s country implementing partners. In October 2022, FAWE provided training on monitoring and evaluation to the 30 implementing partners and project leads, ensuring effective tracking of progress and changes in the partnering schools.

Similarly, in August 2022, FAWE conducted a Training of Trainers (ToT) session on the FAWE CoE model for WASRO staff and francophone chapters from Benin, Burundi, Chad, DRC, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Nigeria, and Togo, with the support of KIX Lartes. During this session, FAWE also strengthened the chapters’ understanding of financial rules and accountability to facilitate the drafting and comprehension of their financial reports. Additionally, 21 participants received training on genderresponsive research methodologies and monitoring and evaluation tools developed to guide the implementation of the KIX Karanta, FAWE, and ROCARE project. The project was launched in July 2022, with an event chaired by the Malian Minister of Education. Project activities are progressing in three stages: data production by the participating countries (including analysis and validation of provisional country reports and finalization), production of a summary research report, and the proposal of the “non-formal education centre for school purposes (CENF/ VS)” bridging class model. The identification of centres to host the project’s activities in implementing countries is also underway.

Furthermore, in collaboration with IFEEFA, FAWE conducted GRP and Tuseme trainings in Gabon, Mali, Burundi, DRC, Chad, and Guinea. These trainings targeted 40 teachers and 40 learners from 10 schools. The knowledge gained from the trainings has been cascaded to 5,673 learners, including 4,478 female learners and 1,195 male learners. The action plans developed by the ten schools in each country are currently being implemented and monitored, along with the animation of the female teachers’ network established by the project in the seven countries. A digital platform is also being created to facilitate communication within the network and to engage journalists in promoting better gender coverage in the education sector.

Teach them young!

FAWE aims at promoting leadership among girls and women from a young age specifically in early grade. In 2022, FAWE developed and validated the model school module for Women in Political Participation. A teachers’ training on the manual was also conducted; the teachers were drawn from Kenya, Zimbabwe and DRC.

School Model Leadership Module: Education is about creating leaders for tomorrow.

By Martha Muhwezi, Executive Director, FAWE Africa

As a thought leader on matters education for Girls in Africa, the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) joins the world to mark the International Day of Education themed “Changing Course, Transforming Education”. FAWE with the support of International Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), under The Women in Political

Participation (WPP) programmes, is developing a Model School leadership module targeting girls in schools towards reducing the commonly noted metaphor of the leaking pipeline to leadership among girls and women. FAWE’s intervention was necessitated by the absence of girls-specific leadership training in schools.

The school model leadership module is designed for early stage learning to enable better understanding of how to address girls’ leadership development within the schools. Girls face a biased perception about leadership that favours boys as leaders; these biases are held by boys, girls, and sometimes parents. These biases against girls having power may be explained by lack of confidence and self-esteem by most girls, stereotyping, such as viewing girls as overly emotional or expressive. It is important that girls are not only exposed to leadership development opportunities and career options, but that intentional efforts are made to create programs that overcome these barriers. The school leadership module is an education pathway to leadership for girls, it will address the various barriers for girls to be in leadership and, enhance empowerment and inclusivity.

As we celebrate Education, FAWE hopes that the module will be adopted by schools in Africa and beyond to instil leadership skills in girls and boys. The school environments are the only source of education for formal leadership experiences and programming to which students are exposed.