African Centre for Disaster Studies - NWU

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G.I.R.R.L. Project

The general portrayal of children, young people and women in disasters is one where they exist only as helpless victims. However, adolescent girls as a distinct sub-group have been able to take on a leading role as agents of change within the context of disaster risk reduction (DRR). A Participatory Action Research (PAR) study, known as the G.I.R.R.L. Project was designed to increase knowledge for empowerment, to encourage leadership development and to improve the resilience of marginalized, black, South African adolescent girls while helping to integrate them into DRR initiatives. The research findings support the notion that young people, especially adolescent girls, when empowered, can defy socially-derived roles as victims through their contributions to participatory DRR-related activities. Recommendations derive from the need to involve and integrate persons with the same demographics into further strategic capacity building programme to maximize impact and ultimately help reshape DRR, with their unique perspectives and contributions.

Projects 2011

GIRRL Project 2011 launched September 10, 2011 for its new Kanana site! We have been working hard with our stakeholders, girls and community and the project sessions started September 13, 2011 at our new school Seleng Thuto. See our new “Kanana” link for our progress!

 

G.I.R.R.L. in the Media!

The G.I.R.R.L. Project has been profiled in the February/March 2011 issue of Bana Balang magazine (pg 4). This magazine is circulated across North-West Province to more than 300,000 English/Setwana learners in more than 300 schools targeting grades 1-12.

Bana Balang is available online at http://www.idf..za.org

The Voice of G.I.R.R.L. – Aganang Radio!!

G.I.R.R.L. Project participant Grace Nkosi  and environmental awareness facilitator Makhaya ’Toto” Tshona were invited to discuss the project on community radio at Aganang FM 90MHZ in February/March 2011 on the Learner’s Connect show on Saturday afternoon.

http://www.aganangfm.org.za/index.htm

 

Vote for the G.I.R.R.L. Project! Views from the Frontline –

Sign up as a member of Views from the Frontline  (http://www.globalnetwork-dr.org/)  go to Views From the Frontline Central and then check us out at Case Study Challenge - DRR empowers girls in South Africa .

(http://www.globalnetwork-dr.org/vfl-central/the-case-study-challenge/170-case-study-4.html)

PhotoVoice

In August 2011, we conducted a PhotoVoice project with 17 past participants of the G.I.R.R.L. Project.  Each girl was given a disposable camera to document their experiences in the project regarding what they have learned, how others see them, how they now see the world around, how their community has changed, etc…

See the photos here...

The following video was compiled to document the PhotoVoice experience through the photos and voices of our girls. 

Dr. Kenneth Kaunda: Projects and Milestones

Have a look at page 22 to 27 of the following publication regarding the G.I.R.R.L. Project.  If you can't see the flash-file, click here to open the publication.

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