“Today I am a woman, I have learned a lot of good things. Before I was very afraid to talk about sex and now I am not afraid anymore. I have learned how I can protect myself from sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS and also prevent unwanted pregnancies. I also want to thank my peers to continued support and I hope we have more sponsors to help evolve our society. I dream of being a lawyer, judge and journalist”, says Lily C., a 10-year old beneficiary of the Mentorship Project.

The initiative is led by the Youth Support Center (CAJ), with technical support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and funding from the Embassy of the Netherlands.

This is a pilot project aimed at improving the life skills and social participation of 7,500 girls ages 10 to 24 in Luanda, Cazenga, Viana and Kilamba Kiaxi municipalities. Currently the target has already been exceeded with 7,650 beneficiaries already reached, started in November 2018.

Last September, the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr Anne van Leeuwen, visited one of the comunities where the “Girl’s Participation, Empowerment and Leadership” Project currently being implemented in the Calemba District of Luanda, Angola. The purpose of the visit was to interact and follow with the beneficiaries. This initiative is also linked to Jiro – Informed Responsible and Organized Youth Program, led by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

During the visit, the beneficiaries were also able to express how the project has transformed their lives through their testimonies.

According to the Director of the Youth Support Center (CAJ), Dr. Ana Isabel Angelina: “The work is very rewarding, but there is still a long way to go. It will be crucial to gather more financial support so that we can give more support to all the girls who come to us. All the girls in the Mentorship Project see these groups as a major support network. We had a case of a 15-year-old girl who was sexually abused by her uncle, but thanks to the network who was notified of the case, and under the guidance of the Ministry of Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women (MASFAMU), appropriate action was taken and the girl was safely relocated to live with her sister”.

Mobilization sessions take place in communities, schools and churches that provide safe meeting spaces.

Fostering-of dreams is common among the girls being mentored by the Mentorship Project, with Adelina R., saying that she dreams: “to take young girls out of prostitution, to provide food for street children and to learn a trade to be independent and to help her family”.

The Mentorship Project focuses on preventing early pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV. In addition, other activities are performed such as theater workshops, jewelry making, hairdressing, make-up and cooking that help to promote their self-esteem, independence, leadership and entrepreneurship.

At the end of the visit, the Ambassador of the Netherlands further reinforced his intention to continue to fund the Mentoring Project financially next year.

*Names have been modified to protect individual identities.