Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

A team of girls (and a boy!) are taking part in the 5km Superhero Run to support AfriKids latest project to help for girls and young women in Ghana.  Our running team ranges from age 7 to 9 years old, so please dig deep so we can make a huge difference to the young women and girls in Ghana, who are less privileged than us, and remember this is a BIG challenge for our little legs!  

Thank you so much!  Lottie (age 7) Rocco (age 7), Becky (age 8), Esme, (age 9) Ella (age 9), Evie (age 9) & Lila (age 9)

Life for girls and young women in northern Ghana is tough, poverty and cultural traditions leave girls at the bottom of the social order and many have little or no say about their lives.    Issues like early and forced marriage mean girls lose out on education and face a life of hardship with early pregnancies putting their lives, and the lives of their babies at risk and infringing on their sexual and reproductive health rights.  

AfriKids is launching a new programme to tackle the issue of girls’ sexual and reproductive health rights.  “Voice, Choice and Control” will target girls aged 10-14yrs who are most at risk of early and forced marriage.  AfriKids has established Child Rights Clubs in over 250 schools – these clubs will be the focus for “Voice Choice and Control” providing information, education and support to girls, ensuring teachers have the skills to support girls at risk and working with communities to change behaviour and attitudes towards girls.   

The UN Foundation found that when girls avoid early marriage and pregnancy they stay in school longer.  Education is the key to breaking the cycles of positively that negatively affect girls.  For each additional year of schooling girls’ employment and earning prospects are increased by around 10% and infant mortality is reduced by up to 10%.

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