Modesta, 17, lives in the town of Choluteca, in the south of the country, with her parents and her 2 brothers. At the age of 7, she had to drop out of school and leave to study for a diploma of information technology to help her mother who had just divorced. But, when her parents remarried 6 years later, Modesta decided to go back to school and complete a diploma of information technology. She worked hard and eventually graduated with a management degree.
Unfortunately, work is scarce in her community, and Modesta realized she couldn’t find work there; she was stuck… Until she heard about the NGO Plan International’s project to help young women to be financially independent. “ I was helping my mother at home when we received a visit from a community volunteer who asked me to participate. I was immediately interested, I thought that my dreams might come true. »
The project in which Modesta participated helps young women between the ages of 14 and 24 from rural areas of Choluteca who live in difficult situations and have few opportunities to find work or earn their own income.
GIVE GIRLS CONFIDENCE AND HELP THEM REACH THEIR GOAL
Plan International first asks the girls to develop a life plan, which allows them to reflect on who they are now and what they would like to become. Using the image of a lighthouse in the middle of the ocean, they are encouraged to imagine a point of light on the horizon that symbolizes their goal(s). The girls must then identify the obstacles they face and determine how long it will take them to reach “the lighthouse”.
Our life skills training, designed to build girls’ self-esteem and confidence, is helping to transform gender relations in the region and thereby helping young girls in Choluteca to become more financially and socially independent. Finally, our project helps girls to identify promising professions that they could develop in their own community.
USE YOUR SKILLS AND KEEP STUDYING
Modesta has chosen to open a shop, which she wants to call “MODE Dining”. Where she will make and sell sweets and snacks to her community. She made a business plan and assessed the risks to deal with the problems. She might encounter this when setting up her business.
“ I’m very happy with the business idea I’ve developed because. It will allow me to use the cooking skills I learned helping my mother at home,” she explains. After opening her store, Modesta plans to use the money she earns to enroll in college for a diploma in information technology in Australia. “ I want to be happy, develop my skills and improve my quality of life,” Modesta said.
INDIA: WE GIRLS ARE NOT SAFE ANYWHERE
Seema, 14, lives in a slum south of New Delhi, the capital of India. More than a year ago, she became involved in Plan International’s project to fight sexual harassment. In the streets and designed cities where young people and especially young girls are safe.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS PART OF THE DAILY LIFE OF GIRLS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
We don’t feel safe anywhere. If my family could move to a safer area, they would. But most people in my community are poor. Parents cannot afford to send their children to better schools or move to safer neighborhoods.
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