“I dream of becoming a doctor so that I can save people and be independent.”
At AAH, Mercy’s dreams are nurtured. Her ambitions are resourced, and her curiosity is fed instead of silenced. She is respected, educated, and heard.
"I Feel Loved Here"
“I am accepted for who I am.”
Hulaymatou is a 17-year-old girl from She's the First partner Starfish International in The Gambia. Starfish teaches girls to know their worth, to use their voice for good, and to make money on their own terms.
My name is Hulaymatou, and I feel loved here.
I feel loved at Starfish because ever since I became a Starfish girl, my mentors have consistently shown up for me in every aspect of my life, from home to school, and everything in between. I remember a day when I was feeling really down and didn’t want to do anything. My mentors noticed and took action; they wrote several affirmations on the board for me and had my fellow students sing for me. That moment made me feel incredibly loved. I carry this experience with me every day and make it a point to do the same for my friends whenever they’re not feeling okay.
At home, I don’t feel entirely free to be myself compared to when I’m at Starfish. There are times when I have to do things to please my family, even when it doesn’t feel right for me. At Starfish, I am accepted for who I am and encouraged to express myself without judgment. The freedom and support I get from my mentors and peers at Starfish allow me to embrace my true self in ways I often can’t at home. This environment has taught me how important it is to surround myself with people who uplift and understand me.
I know I am a queen, and I act accordingly. I run a small business that allows me to stay financially independent and take care of my basic needs. And no matter how small my contributions may seem, I am consistently serving my community in any way I can, guided by the Starfish values I hold dear.
From one queen to another,
Hulaymatou
The Space to Dream Campaign is about ensuring that girls in every community have a safe place to go where they feel loved and empowered to change the world. She’s the First partners with grassroots organizations like Starfish International, training local women leaders on feminist mentorship, reproductive health education, and girls’ rights.
As a result, girls feel loved, respected, and worthy. You heard it from Hulaymatou best, no matter how small the contribution, our gifts are valuable and important for creating the world girls everywhere deserve.
Will you give a gift to support a future where all girls feel loved like Hulaymatou?
Women (& Girls!) Can Be President
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.
