Thank you for giving girls in El Salvador a reason to smile!
Your Contributions at Work
Final Report on the Because I am a Girl Project in El Salvador
“Girls Against Violence” (April 2012 - January 2015)
Unaccompanied minors from El Salvador
immigrating to the US over the past 4 years
9,850
5,990
3,314
1,394
Oct 2011-Sep 2012 Oct 2012-Sept 2012 Oct 2012-Sep 2013 Oct 2013-May2014
In 2014, with the collapse of the
truce between rival gangs, El Salvador
witnessed more than 10 murders every
day, an increase of 57% from the previous
year in deadly violence. This number is
staggeringly high for such a small country
of just 6 million people. The widespread
violence has forced many people to flee
for their lives, as seen in the number of
children—increasingly girls—crossing
the border alone into the US in the past 4
years.
This threatening world is the reality for the girls growing up in El Salvador. But amidst
the fear and threats around them, you have provided a refuge for these girls across 5 regions in
El Salvador. You have provided a safe space where they can meet with friends and feel like
normal teenagers, a mentor who helps them learn how to counteract the culture of violence
around them, and local authorities who know how to provide care and
support when violence takes place. Because of you, even during dark
times for the country, these girls have a reason to smile.
Here’s what you’ve made possible:
Over the past three years, 1,396 girls
from 36 communities have completed the
School for the Prevention of Gender Violence,
where they learned that violence should not be
considered normal, and that they can speak up if
they face abuse. Through the School, 212 girls
affected by violence were identified and provided
with individual psychological care.
After completing the School, 187 girls
completed a Peer Listeners Training where they
Girl Ambassadors learn how to be “peer
listeners” for their friends.
learned about how to actively listen to their peers and to take action or file complaints in the
case of violence. The girls also learned how to strengthen their leadership abilities and about
the importance of forming sisterly relationships among girls and women in order to address
and reduce gender-based violence. In addition, as part of the Adolescent Boys’ program, over
130 boys were educated on gender, masculinity, power relations, and how to prevent violence
against girls.
Strengthening institutions to sensitively respond to violence
Throughout the project, state and local institutions and social organizations were
strengthened to provide girls and their families with a timely response to complaints in cases
of gender-based violence at the municipal level. The project offered a diploma-earning course
entitled “Comprehensive Care for Girls Affected by GBV” and a total of 50 civil servants from
the areas of health, education, law, and the municipal government completed the training.
Civil servants, now trained to provide
sensitive care for girls affected by violence,
show off their diplomas.
These civil servants now possess important
skills to be able to better understand the situation
of girls and women in their communities. This, in
turn, led to community and municipal mapping, in
order to learn what institutions are present and
what types of services they provide to inform girls
and youth. Shortly after, 8 municipalities made a
commitment to create safe spaces for girls and
women affected by gender-based violence to
receive care.
Training Boys to Prevent Violence Against Girls
The Adolescent Boys program trained 139
boys aged 12-18 on the issues of masculinities to
prevent violence against girls. The program
encouraged boys to become promoters of gender
equality in their communities by sensitizing toward a
culture of peace, affection, self-care, and caring for
others. “I am now committed to eliminating forms of
violence,” shares a young male participant.
School for the Prevention of Gender Violence
The School for the Prevention of Gender
Violence trained over 1300 girls aged 12-18
on the topics of gender, power and violence,
risk identification, and how to report abuse.
Girls shared their personal opinions and
experiences and took ownership of the process
of violence prevention.
Core lessons included identifying the
types of violence they are exposed to—on the
street, in the home, and even on social media.
They were also provided with information and
strategies on how and where to seek help from
violence.
The School is also a place where girls can simply
come together, feel safe, make friends and laugh!
Girls’ voices are heard far and wide across the country!
Kenia (on the right) with a
famous Salvadoran journalist
“Since the Prevention School, I have participated in 2 forums on
teen pregnancy and violence prevention, where I have spoken to
authorities. Never in my life did I ever imagine I would do this. This
opportunity made me feel that I was the same as TV journalists
from famous channels across the country. We, girls, are talking
about real situations we have experienced as girls, and we want to
give the message of girls’ rights: a violence-free life, walking down
the street without fear of being hurt; being respected because of
the way we dress; being provided security because we are girls.”
- Kenia, Girl Ambassador, age 14
One step further: Spreading the word to the whole community
In order to build their community’s sensitivity
to gender-based violence, the girls who participated in
the Prevention School prepared 34 community
action plans identifying who to reach with their
messages, how to share the messages in a meaningful
way, and when to carry out their activities.
To make this possible, 470 girls were trained
in drama and another 88 girls in drumming. They put
on 102 community events using drama or music to
catch people’s attention and spread the word.
Over 3,800 people attended the events the girls
hosted. The girls creatively engaged the community
with arts and music, and infused serious issues such as
harassment and abuse, discrimination, as well as
violence at school and in their homes.
The girls practice drumming for a
community music event, where they share
key messages about changing the culture
of violence.
How has your support impacted young lives in El Salvador?
“I have learned to say no to mistreatment and abuse,
which many girls and boys keep to themselves.
Mistreatment and abuse has to stop, and we have to
report it, because if we don’t, this country will never
change, and we will continue –all women– putting up
with “macho” men, who often mistreat or humiliate us.
This is not fair for women, girls, adolescents, and it is
up to us to continue this here in El Salvador.” Antonia, age 17
“You don’t have to be “macho” to be a man.” - Boy
participant
Thank you for giving girls
and boys in El Salvador a
refuge from violence!
www.becauseiamagirl.us
“I used to get angry with my daughter a lot. I shouted
and scolded her for everything. Now I do it less, and I
am aware of it, because of the workshops by daughter
received.” - Mother of a participant