Ellie Kaaya cracked the presidential glass ceiling at her university so other women could break through. She ran for student body president even when people told her that only men should lead. A few years later, her campaign inspired her mentee, Fides, to follow her lead. Fides became the first female class president at their university, blazing her own trail for change.
Maribel’s the first, her sister will be the second.
I was born a queen.
A girl needs a teacher.
"Education is our weapon to confront society."
Empowered Woman, Infinite Impact: My Journey with MAIA and She's the First
Follow the inspiring journey of our Senior Programs Manager, Ceci Arriaza, from her time working with our incredible partner, @MAIA Impact (@MAIA_Impact), to her role today at She’s the First, where she leads Ellas al Frente, our joint three-year program to improve outcomes for girls in the Northern Triangle . Through it all, MAIA has been a steadfast partner at the forefront of empowering Indigenous girls through education and leadership.
Discover how MAIA's innovative approach and local expertise have transformed lives, celebrated with every chant of "Empowered Woman, Infinite Impact!" The appointment of Indigenous Mayan women Andrea Coche and Lidia Oxí as co-executive leaders showcases the powerful impact of community-led efforts.
A Partner Closing the Distance for Girls’ Education
The Small World is a not-for-profit charitable organization supporting locally-driven, sustainable community development projects. These projects provide not only education for children—especially young girls at risk from exploitation—but also remove traditional barriers to girls' education, create empowerment scenarios for local communities, and ultimately help to end deep-rooted cycles of poverty.
Mercy Nandutu: A Trailblazer for Girls in Nuclear Engineering in Her Community
Mercy Nandutu is a nuclear engineer earning her second master’s degree—in fact, she’s the first person from her village in Uganda ever to become a nuclear engineer. “If that young girl from my past could witness my journey to becoming a nuclear engineer, she would undoubtedly feel an overwhelming sense of empowerment and possibility,” reflected Mercy. “Seeing my achievements, she would believe that she is capable of overcoming any obstacle and achieving her dreams. She would feel a sense of representation and validation in seeing someone like herself excel in the field.”
"To every Muslim woman; You are powerful": Meet Alum & Mentor Wuday Jaiteh!
“I do the work because I grew up around a lot of suffering and injustice, and as the first girl child of my family, I want to show the rest of my community what is possible through education.” Wuday Jaiteh is a 22-year-old law student at the University of The Gambia, and a graduate of and mentor for our partner Starfish International. Get to know this powerhouse young woman through our Q&A!
Bridging the Distance to Graduation for Girls: She's the First, Never the Last
From a remote Andean village to the graduation stage! Meet Yoselinda, a trailblazer in her family as she becomes the first to earn her high school diploma. In areas where high schools are sparse and resources are scarce, organizations like our Peruvian partner Sacred Valley Project bring solutions. We’re proud to support Yoselinda's journey through education and empowerment!
Hot Off the Presses: The Girl Gazette!
Vision and Transformation: A Visit to Arlington Academy of Hope in Uganda
“My key takeaway is legacy and the power of vision!” wrote Training Manager Emma Mogaka of her recent visit to our Ugandan partner Arlington Academy of Hope. Members of our programs team witnessed our partner’s work in action and led customized trainings in girl-centered design for the organization’s staff, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights workshops for the girls.
Community-Centered Change: A Visit to Savana Kitui in Kenya
Our partner Savana Kitui works with schools to create safe spaces for girls to mentor and address issues of gender-based violence, access to quality education, economic justice and rights, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). They have done so by creating safe havens through the use of art, music, dance, and sports in order to build relationships with girls and address other more complex issues.
The Girl Gazette: Art, Poetry, and More from Girls Globally
At She’s the First, we create opportunities for girls to tell their own stories. The Girl Gazette is a newsletter created entirely by girls representing organizations from our Partner Coalition.
An Inspiring Visit To GLAMI, Our Partner in Tanzania
“Mentors shared that they see transformation in the girls when they commence the program within a year. They reported that girls become more self-aware, more confident, and feel safe sharing their opinions and views.” Our Director of Programs & Impact Kate Kiama reflected on her recent visit to our long-time partner GLAMI in an update for our news site. GLAMI has benefited 11,400 Tanzanian girls to date through phenomenal four- and two-year life-skills and leadership training programs.
Creating Positive Change for Girls in Kenya: A Site Visit to Msichana Empowerment Kuria
The Swahili word “Msichana” translates to “girl.” Our new partner Msichana Empowerment Kuria (MEK) is a women-led and girl-centric nonprofit organization that stands firmly behind the concept its name represents.
Recently, members of our programs team traveled to Migori County, Kenya, to learn more about this grassroots organization through talks with their program staff and the girls they serve.
Our Biggest Investment: Meet Our 2023-2025 Partner Coalition!
We’re proud to announce the 15 women-led organizations taking part in our Partner Coalition for the next three years! Through the She's the First Partner Coalition, we provide transformational funding and support to community-based organizations (we call them CBOs) serving girls in the Global South.
Our active cohort consists of 15 CBOs in 10 countries, engaging 9,475 girls across East and West Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. Together, we increase girls' agency and leadership through feminist mentorship programs.
The Girl Gazette: essays, interviews, and art from girls in the STF community
Our Staff's Top 2022 Moments
Why We Stopped "Sponsoring" Girls
The "sponsorship" fundraising model is popular in the nonprofit sector because it works. People like to give when they can see the girl they're impacting—so many nonprofits feel stuck using it.
We took the risk and moved away from it for the four big reasons. Read why from our co-founders in the Stanford Social Innovation Review.