Author: PAY ROLL

sexual and economic exploitation, trafficking for the purposes of prostitution and forced labour. There are some girls who want educational support and others who want to start small income generating projects. Many girls trafficked and sexually enslaved want to escape but lack support to do so.
Change happens when individual girls act locally and think and connect nationally and internationally. Founder Anita Koroma and team want to see innovative programs being rolled out at grassroots.
Why the girl child empowerment model nation wide
There is gender inequality in all spheres of home, school and community in most parts of the world including Sierra Leone. Patriarchal structures are deep rooted and seated. Change in attitudes, beliefs and practices is not guaranteed unless the perceived victim and the most vulnerable, in this case, the girl child is empowered to stand up and demand her rights, choice and space. Strategies wait until a girl reaches adulthood in which case a lot of the patriarchal beliefs, attitudes and practices would have been instilled in her and like in the case of older women they cannot break a culture of silence and solely depend on women to grant their rights and if men choose not to they would rather choose to suffer in silence. To most victims rights are not understood as entitlements. It goes without saying that it is not easy to teach old dog new tricks. It also goes without saying that an individual is an extension of society and therefore whatever changes we want to make should start with the individual girl child and if she extends empowerment in her community (fathers, mothers, brothers, uncles and many others who have been through patriarchy).

Our mission: We supports and promotes empowerment of girls 0-21 in the home, school and community and build platforms to advance their rights and freedoms so that they reach their full potential.
Vision: We envision a society where girls are empowered and enjoy their rights with support from all Sierra Leonean so as to walk in the fullness of their potential
Major goal: To protect and promote the rights of the girl child and to support the economic, political, social and cultural empowerment of the girl child in order for her to assert those rights
Objectives
Raise awareness in communities, families, media, churches, schools, social services/welfare, health centres and public places on need to create social safety nets for girls subjected to or at risk of harmful cultural practices and gender insensitive practices, beliefs and attitudes.
Support education and develop leadership skills in girls so that they transform from victims to leaders.
To combat economic and social inequality so as to minimize gender based violence.
Principles and Values
Integrity – we deliver our programs with truth and openness and we must remain accountable at all times.

Honesty – everything from the heart. Our work inspires and inspired by our personal stories and the stories of the girls we represent.
Commitment – we started as volunteers and we will commit our time and resources above what others contribute.
Excellency – we must be the best in whatever we do. No part of our work is done as window dressing.
Action oriented – we always thrive to see something done.
Empowerment – everyone we work with or target must be able to stand up for themselves and we should play a facilitative role.
Team work – we believe the problem needs all of us play a part and that each part adds up.
Learning and sharing – we believe that everyday we generate knowledge and others too generate knowledge and the power of sharing knowledge will make us stronger and better. We are an organisation with a learning culture.
What we want to see
Support girls round Sierra Leone to replicate the girl child empowerment model by introducing school girls clubs.
Individual transformation of girls through capacity building training in gender.

Help transform girl victims into survivors and leaders (victim support before and after court).
Establish Child line Family Centre a 24-hour crisis counselling and helpline for Children adolescents and adults on issues affecting children and their welfare
Documentation & Dissemination of good practices and creating a knowledge bank on girls empowerment
Leadership mentorship, coaching and training for young women who have vision to set up girls initiatives
International networking and advocacy conferences for girls from round Sierra Leone
Donations are welcome and cheques can be written to GIRL CHILD NETWORK-SIERRA LEONE
Contacts
Anita A Koroma
Country Representative
92 Circular Road
Freetown, Sierra Leone
P . O . Box: 825
Tel: 0232 –25274270/7878 14 44
UK: 0044-7903865699
Email: girlchildnetworksl@gmail.com
Website: www.girlchildnetworkworldwide.org/ www.gcnsierraleone.org
Facbook::www.girlchildnetworksierraleone
Twitter: @GCNSierraLeone

HIV/AIDS, human rights, education and career pathway, leadership and confidence building
Laws and policies that promote sexual reproductive health, economic, social and political rights of girls are in place and fully implemented so as to minimise gender based violence.
Girl child survivors of gender based violence and girls at risk through emergency rescue operations, provisions of emergency safe shelter and referral to legal /medical aid and counselling services.
Financial and human resources to assist girls actively participate in empowerment exchange visits, workshops and conferences in Sierra Leone and around the world
Girls empowerment, education and development fund that support girls
Programs
The primary role of Girl Child Network Sierra Leone
Grow Girls Empowerment Model.
Mobilize girls into school/community clubs that enable them to learn their right, promote sexual reproductive heath, prevent sexual violence and harassment, and become self confident leaders.
Raise money for the Empowerment and Education Support Fund responds to crisis situations where girls’ futures are at risk.
Provide small grants for GCN clubs and self-help projects to enable girls to survive.
Prepare girls victims and witness for court appearance.

We mobilise and organise, energise and empower girls in Sierra Leone
Brief about Girl Child Network Sierra Leone
On January 2011, Girl Child Network - Sierra Leone was formed in United Kingdom. It was officially introduced in Sierra Leone January 2011 as Girl Child Network – Sierra Leone Chapter.
Girl Child Network is an activist national non– governmental organisation that seeks to promote the rights and empowerment of the girl child in the home, school, and community. We are partner to GCNW which was born out of the helplessness and hopelessness of the girl child in Zimbabwe with the view to assisting girls in their quest for emancipation. GCN was established in 1999 by CEO and Founder Betty Makoni and ten upper six girls in Zengeza 1 High.
Why Girl Child Network Sierra Leone?
Daily there are disasters in homes, schools and communities that affect girls. Girls and young women are at risk of violence in the home, school and community; physical and emotional abuse, sexual abuse,