Cyuzuzo Maureen

Gender equal and equitable strategies for working with young people mean that we need to change the way the system around them works. The educational, health, and social services systems need to work with them instead of for them. As strategies, curricula, and spaces are refined to match the current needs and realities of young people, we have a unique opportunity to bring together many leaders and groups for joint action. By bringing together actors at multiple levels, we hope to create a safe space for sharing and reflecting on the needs at community and local levels when it comes to working with adolescents, particularly girls, to further their educational, learning, and developmental needs. By engaging with those closest to the work first, we hope to shift the power dynamics so that challenges and opportunities discussed are centered nearest those with whom we seek to engage and empower. This shift in power dynamics through the session structure intends to ensure all voices are valued equally, rather than starting with those with funding or policy precedence. The engagement of partners and panelists is deliberately broad ranging, with the inclusion of local implementors, groups working at national, regional, or international levels, donors who fund many initiatives aimed at addressing the gendered barriers to adolescent education and life skills development, and governments who provide key frameworks guiding priorities.

Session format: Networking & Partnership building

Organized by CARE International