- Project ASHA
Sheroes Leadership and Mentoring (SLAM) Project boosts conversation of leadership for rural girls
Many girls, especially in marginalized communities, do not reach their full potential. In many communities, like Olusosun Community, cultural practices and misinformation set girls and women behind in topics of leadership, self-awareness, and reaching a full abundant life. They lack access to education, health care, economic opportunities, and decision-making power, and with no access to technology, they are steps behind their counterparts in developed countries.
The Project ASHA Sheroes Leadership and Mentoring Project (SLAM) seeks to boost the conversation of leadership for rural girls. SLAM will support rural girls with information and give them access to opportunities by bringing them closer to leadership and decision-making in their communities. The project provided mentoring opportunities for girls in rural settings to thrive, receive guidance, and enjoy sisterhood for a more fulfilled life. We are connecting rural girls in need of mentoring, support, resources, and opportunities to women and people who have them. It is an inspiring march towards helping them to live an equally balanced life.
The inaugural event and the first-ever all-female event in the community, themed "She Leads Beyond," took place in the Olusosun community with 24 young women. It focused on three main topics: self-leadership, culturally responsive mindsets, and dreams beyond visible limitations. The participants had access to established women and mentors within the community. With the focus groups and break-out sessions, the mentors were able to share their personal stories, provide answers to deep questions, give feedback, and guide the participants in areas of personal and life decisions.
The girls were mentored by seasoned female professionals like Chika Nnadozie, Mrs. Christiana Olukayode, Toju Dottie, Ms. Gloria Asekun and Joseph Waribugo, Project Lead for Project ASHA.
The SLAM project featured an essay category with five contestants who wrote on the topic on the topic "Why women should be empowered to lead". The essay encouraged girls to aspire to become leaders and positive local influencers and boost interest in education. Three winners emerged and received a prize token of N30,000 for the winner and the third-place positions, and a Samsung smartwatch for the second-place winner.
Feedback from participants
Amina Lawal: I am happy to be part of the event. I have learnt about self-awareness, to never give up, and how to be a positive influence in my society.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP
The Sheroes Leadership and Mentoring Project proposes to be a recurring boot camp event and will reach more communities in the coming months. ProjectASHA call for volunteer mentors, inspiring female role models and gender experts to strengthen the impact of the project. Also, as a skilled entrepreneur, you can give free to subsidized training and paid internship opportunities to improve the economic capacities of rural girls and women in communities across Ikeja Local Government Area or in your own local area.
