My Community

At Fortress of Hope Africa(FOHA)My work involves empowering less fortunate and vulnerable adolescent girls living in low income settlements ; through trainings (on SRH ,life skills ,HIV/AIDS and financial management),proving a safe space , offering counselling ,support to the girls, lobbying and advocating for GBV issues and access to reproductive health services and information .
I face barrier like resistant from the community members –Being a patriarchal community, empowering of the girls is seen as a threat .They fear girls getting socio-economic autonomy and my effort faces serious resistance. I have had to fearlessly ask for position in the area Chief gatherings for 7 girls to participate and be given an opportunity to speak. (It was not easily granted)

The other is Dynamic and increasing SRH challenges girls face in the community. With the most of the target group I work with being less fortunate and vulnerable adolescent girls, cased of teenage pregnancy, early marriages, child trafficking ,unsafe abortion ,school drop-outs ,HIV/AIDs infection and sexual and gender based violence is increasing. The numbers are so overwhelming that FOHA cannot cope with.

The other barrier is lack of resources both financial and human resource .FOHA is a young women led-community based organization .It is very difficult to raise resources for FOHA as this community based and headed by young women.
Through networking with other partners in the country, I organised forums targeting community and local authority leaders to sensitize them on the role of girls in the development of the community. I also organize community outreaches to create awareness on issues of Sexual and Gender based violence, HIV/AIDS and SRH.

Also I am working hard to resource mobilize to meet the needs of adolescent girls. Also I have identified list of referrals and partners i refer girls for assistance in case FOHA cannot offer.

I can use PulseWire to publicize my work, achievement and challenges I face. I can use it to share my experience working with adolescent girls. I can use it to source for resources we need as an organization working with girls in the grass-root. I will also introduce Girls leaders in FOHA to become members of this network and post their initiatives activities and needs. Lastly it is a source of knowledge; i can get resources and learn from other women members of Pulsewire.