By Hindaty Traore, Girls Project Manager
Girl Leaders are young women from our partner villages who are trained by Mali Rising to take over the activities of the Girl Project in our three original Girls Project villages. These young women run the Girls Groups, and serve as role models to our girls because they are each continuing their own education in high school or vocational classes.
We decided to recruit new Girl Leaders every year so that as many young women as possible can benefit from the Girl Leaders training and contribute to the development of their community by helping their little sisters who are in the middle school. Six young women were chosen this year, so that we have two Girl Leaders in each village. The role of these Girl Leaders is to return to their respective villages to help girls to stay in school and demonstrate through their own experiences that education can help girls succeed.
This year, during our first Girl Leaders training session, one of the Girl Leaders named Nantenin Samaké cried during her first simulation of giving a lesson. She was shaking because she was so shy. It was her first time to speak publicly.
Nantenin wanted to give up because she thought she couldn't do it, but a former Girl Leader from last year, Siné Sidibé from Kolimba, was present. She encouraged Nantenin and told her own story of when she started the Girl Leader training last year. She herself was shy and did not believe that she could be who she is now (a strong-minded, determined and confident young woman). After a few minutes of encouragement, Nantenin said she was ready to continue. She was able to do the three days of the training without crying or shaking. She now believes that before the end of the third Girl Leader training session, she will be the best Girl Leader!
