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We often hear how girls rock and girls rule the world! But do they really? In developing regions, every year, an estimated 16 million teenage girls, 15-19 years give birth. Another 2.5 million girls under 16 years give birth every year. Approximately 3.9 million adolescent girls, 15-19 years, have an unsafe abortion resulting in death or lifelong complications. Millions are trafficked within their borders and across international borders plus a grossly unacceptable number of young and old women are mercilessly assaulted. While we don't see staggering statistics in the developed regions, similar challenges are mirrored in adolescent girls in underserved areas, including Baltimore–where we recently launched Girl Talk, Girl Power because whether it is Shamsa in Uganda or Gabby in Baltimore, all adolescent girls deserve a supportive environment and a multidisciplinary network to prioritize girls' health, education, and opportunities to live to their full potential.
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Tausi Suedi, CSI Cofounder & CEO highlights importance of International Day of the Girl Child, challenges, and opportunities. Voice of America, Washington, DC. Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
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CSI's Girl Talk, Girl Power program has educated and empowered adolescent girls in rural and urban areas primarily addressing the "taboo" topics namely menstruation, menstrual hygiene, teenage pregnancies, sexual and reproductive health. Many girls are unprepared and unaware of body changes, what it means, and how they should take care of themselves and avoid unintended pregnancies, HIV/AIDS, STIs, and dropping out of school.
The girl child has a lot of potential if only she can be accepted and valued like the boy child, protected from violence and abuse, and be given the opportunity and safe space to survive and thrive. #GirlTalkGirlPower Read "Investing in Girls is Investing in Humanity" 
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As every country's pace is quickly changing to keep up with competing markets and the world is becoming a global village, now more than ever is the best time to invest in the girl child.
Letting girls learn, acquiring important life-skills, delaying marriage up until when they are ready, ending harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and son preference, and engaging them in global matters such as climate change, environmental health, peace and conflict resolution, and business opportunities is the best investment for the girl and generations to come. More and more women are entering spaces that were once viewed as "men only spaces", and the adolescent girl child wherever she may be, her rights should not be denied or violated, just because she's a girl! All girls need support, guidance, and resources to learn to love themselves, be independent and take care of themselves. After phases of childhood immunizations for those who get them, girls do not go back to a health facility unless they are pregnant or have had an unsafe abortion. These gaps in health services have created major challenges for many girls in the developing world. CSI's Girl Talk, Girl Power program is implemented in marginalized communities across sub-Saharan Africa and more recently underserved communities in the United States. CSI's girl-centered program averts teenage pregnancies, vulnerability to prostitution and human trafficking, HIV/AIDS and STIs, gender-based violence, and increases human resources for health, sports, and social services by investing in girls to get an education and essential life skills to be healthy productive adults. |
Girl Talk, Girl Power sessionsSkilled and trained team members hold interactive sessions with the girls in the presence of a female teacher. Various in-class illustrations such as how to use a sanitary pad and role playing are part of the edu-empower sessions conducted. Girls are always eager to learn, they feel informed and empowered because of CSI's Girl Talk, Girl Power program.
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Girls need pads to go & stay in schoolMake a small donation and help a girl go to school, stay in school, and have the opportunity to get an education by having sanitary pads. CSI gives sanitary pads for free.
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In their own words. Girls who patiently waited for change-makers to change their lives.
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