Why Girls? A Q&A on Girls’ Empowerment with Dr. Karen Austrian
“There is tremendous power in investing and intervening during adolescence, which is a critical window in our development.”
Integrated projects meeting the unique needs of women and youth in our communities
Girls’ Empowerment activities are strategically embedded across our health and youth programs. Recognizing females face unique challenges in informal settlements, we build self-agency among girls, provide them with access to a support network, and encourage them to develop and use their voices and practice leadership, ensuring girls can reach their full potential. Our work focuses on empowerment interventions and violence prevention to address the vulnerabilities that adolescents and young women face and includes the signature programs below.
We provide pathways for teenage mothers to realize their right to education or vocational training paired with psychosocial support.
We encourage girls to find their voices to demand action on issues they care about, practice leadership, and develop public speaking skills.
Our safe spaces ensure girls in slums have a supportive environment where they can learn, grow, and process their challenges with trusted mentors.
Since establishing Kibera’s first all-girls soccer league in 2002, we have pioneered soccer initiatives to address ethnic conflict, promote community cooperation and development, and serve as a gateway to connect youth to health services. We leverage the power of sports and play to advocate for the health and wellness of youth on and off the pitch, equipping young people with information, services, and mentorship to live healthier lives.
Our signature youth soccer tournaments build community trust, empower youth, and increase access to health and education services.
We train coaches as mentors on our VBS curriculum to improve the economic, educational, and health outcomes of youth.
Our national-level women and men’s teams are proving the talent of slum youth to the world, and players serve as CFK Africa social change champions.
“There is tremendous power in investing and intervening during adolescence, which is a critical window in our development.”
“Coaching is more than drills. It is about giving young people direction, alternatives, and belief in their own potential.”
“The launch event affirmed several truths for me: that many are committed to ending GBV, that community ownership is key, and that extraordinary potential exists when people unite around a shared cause.”
Who We Are
CFK Africa is a registered NGO in Kenya and 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the U.S. that empowers youth in slums.
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