Help us to support, protect and empower all women and girls

Globally women and girls have experienced great gains – now more than ever before, we have more girls completing primary education, having better access to health care and increased access to information about their rights and their options, which has allowed them to make informed decisions. We have recently celebrated International Women’s Day and whilst it is a celebration of all we have achieved, we still have some way to go before the world is a safer place for women and girls.

Our appeal is focusing on women and girls…              WHY?

Because they remain one of the most marginalised groups that have the least access to rights. Globally each year 1.2 million children are trafficked… that is the equivalent of two children being trafficked every minute… Approximately 80% of those trafficked are female and 50% are under the age of 18 years of age.

Education is transformational for girls and often one of the most fundamental means to break the cycle of poverty

 As you already know, the girls in the care of La Alianza, Guatemala are survivors of trafficking and violence. Girls are especially vulnerable in a society – The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. This violence often continues into exploitation, demoralising women where they lose their self-confidence, self-esteem and subject to degrading treatment time and time again…

One of the major barriers to prevent and end violence against women and girls worldwide is the substantial funding shortfall and therefore our APPEAL is to provide the girls at La Alianza with a safe environment where they are given tools to support their physical and emotional well being and strengthen their resilience… Supporting their development into strong, educated and healthy young women – just £ 15 a week can make that difference…

There are 60 girls aged between 11 -17 years of age – nine of whom are mothers with 12 babies being cared for by La Alianza, Guatemala. La Alianza is also supporting eight adolescent girls’ over the age of 18 who have mental health problems and special educational needs. La Alianza receives no support whatsoever from the government and they manage to continue the fantastic work they do through the generosity of your support.

 Just £15 a week can make that difference…

The Girls study at La Alianza in many ways… Remotely, via visiting tutors, through vocational training and through accessing the neurological centre. Not all of the girls are able to attend public schools – many live in daily fear of being recaptured by traffickers or due to pending legal cases to prosecute traffickers, they have to remain in the safe house for their protection. They all have individual care and educational plans to support their development, educational journey and accessing holistic emotional health services and counselling to support their emotional wellbeing.

Are you able to help us to expand the education programme for girls at La Alianza?

The programme is one that includes the provision of formal education, to support educational attainment and to ensure girls are able to create a future for themselves through accessing meaningful employment. It also includes access to the ‘Art for Rights’ programme – one that supports the creative expression of girls, which is often used for younger girls as part of counselling sessions to help overcome trauma. The programme provides a platform for girls as they take the art to the streets to demand peace and respect for the rights of children and adolescents in Guatemala. Finally, the education programme provides access to sports, which is a huge enabler for young girls. It’s provides a powerful opportunity to build their self-esteem, courage and become physically stronger and healthier. Their participation in sports enables the development of critical life skills transferable to other spheres of life such as teamwork, goal setting, resilience and communication.

                         
It costs around £15 per week for each girl to participate and to change their life.

The girls at La Alianza would be eternally grateful and benefit so much from your care, thought and generosity

We really hope you can donate to the appeal and make a difference for girls who up until the time they came to La Alianza, never had a chance. Your donation will give even more girls that chance to grow and thrive.

Thank you so much

If you are interested in what goals are being set Globally to make a difference for women & girls – take a look at the Sustainable development goals – www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.