Our Mission:
The Yaya Girls seeks to create a new class of Ethiopian female role models that will promote gender equality throughout Ethiopia! Our goal is to help young women facing serious life challenges to become amazing, empowered women who
can bring positive changes to themselves and those around them. The Yaya Girls hosts four to eight young women a trimester, and are provided accommodation and food in Yaya Village. The Yaya Girls uses a five pillar approach that addresses the root causes keeping
Ethiopian women in a cycle of poverty;
The Five Pillars:
Athletics: Through training, the girls learn the value of discipline, structure, teamwork, and the ways in which one can overcome barriers with grace and confidence.
English Language Learning: English language learning increases the girls’ chances of gainful employment after graduation from the Yaya Girls Running Program and provides them with a formal place to study and learn.
Vocational Skill Training: Formal apprenticeships, training opportunities, and seminars run by local role models provide the girls with invaluable professional exposure that expands their current expectations of what they can achieve
and prepares them to be desirable future employees.
Empowerment and Life-Skills Building: Using a curriculum crafted specially for the Ethiopian context, the Yaya Girls Running Program creates a safe space in which the girls can find female community and support as well as develop
a stronger sense of confidence, self-love, and agency over the circumstances that govern their lives.
Health and Nutrition Education: Practical lessons in women’s health and nutrition helps the girls to make knowledgeable and safe decisions regarding their bodies and minds as well as gives them the language and tools to share new
knowledge with others
Check out this article of our Programme Facilitator and Super Spice Girl, Banchi,
http://www.runbritain.com/blogs/okay-yaya
Why invest in girls:
Studies have shown that investing in girls is a great way to develop communities. As women become more empowered they have a greater say in household and community matters. Through greater participation and an increased sense of agency,
women gain access to more resources, which they then put towards their interests, which may be; children, food, health, and education: all things that have a positive benefit for a community at large.
Why running:
Running has been shown to empower youth in developing countries. The act of running focuses on ones’ abilities, rather than disabilities; allowing runners to form a sense of pride and ownership over their bodies. A running team creates
a safe space, in which runners can build confidence, practice teamwork, and find friendship or mentors. Finally, a running lifestyle teaches the value of discipline, structure, and responsibility to athletes and others.
We are passionate about our work!
Many young women in Ethiopia turn to running to escape poverty after being pushed out or denied access to the education system because of their sex. Women already have the burden of being female as a stroke against them, and without
education their chance for formal employment is slim. While many of these young Ethiopian women are phenomenal runners, few viable options to become financially independent exist for them.
While gender roles are beginning to change in Ethiopian society, we believe that it’s important to continue investing in girls and programs that can help to expand life choices for females. The young women in the Yaya Girls Program
are smart, talented people who understand the disadvantages they are given in life but are willing to work for a better future.
Please Support our Yaya Girls!
The Yaya Girls Program’s ultimate goal is to help young women facing serious life challenges to become amazing, empowered females who can bring positive changes to both themselves and Ethiopia.
- Our goal is to raise $8000! $1000 dollars means we can fund a girl for a whole semester, so $8000 means we can fund 2 girls for a trimester and also pay for salaries, supplies and infrastructure!
- You can share the Yaya Girl Power by following us on Facebook or keeping updated with our progress online through our Website and blog!
- TELL YOUR FRIENDS! By sharing our mission with others our future as a program looks even brighter! The more people who know about us increases our chance for support and inspires other Non-Profit Organizations to form; increasing
the work for gender equality and female empowerment around the globe!
