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Meteorologists are predicting a strong El NiƱo weather pattern through the winter and into the spring. But what is El NiƱo, and what does it mean for girls around the world?
What is El NiƱo?
El NiƱo is a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that can affect weather worldwide. It represents a change in the winds that circle the Earth, called ātrade winds.ā Normally, these winds blow west along the equator, taking warm water west from South America toward Asia. But during El NiƱo, trade winds weaken. Warm water is pushed back east, toward the west coast of the Americas. With this shift, areas in the northern U.S. and Canada are dryer and warmer than usual, while the U.S. Gulf Coast and Southeast, and northern Mexico, are wetter than usual and have increased flooding. Historically, El NiƱo-influenced weather systems bring more intense cyclones in the North-Western Pacific and more frequent cyclones in the South Pacific. Episodes of El NiƱo typically last nine to 12 months but can sometimes last for years. Events occur every two to seven years, on average, but they donāt occur on a regular schedule. Scientists arenāt exactly sure why they happen, but they can predict El NiƱo conditions several months to a year in advance, based on historical models and observation data. Basically, El NiƱo is a climate pattern that changes the Earthās normal conditions, resulting in extreme, unpredictable weather.
You can help communities prepare for El NiƱo and recover from extreme weather events with a gift to Planās Humanitarian Response Fund.
When was the last strong El NiƱo, and what happened?
The last strong El NiƱo season ran from mid-2015 through early 2016 and affected approximately 60 million people globally, according to the U.N.
- Across Africa, El NiƱo led to drought and an increase in food insecurity and malnutrition. Ethiopia experienced its worst drought in 50 years, causing an estimated 1.2 million children under age 5 and pregnant and lactating mothers to suffer from moderate acute malnutrition in 2016.
- People in Asia and the Pacific also experienced extended dry spells or drought, along with powerful cyclones, which led to water and food shortages. While Indonesia was combating wildfires and responding to flooding, places like Fiji were hit by multiple cyclones. When the El NiƱo-fueled Cyclone Winston made landfall in February 2016, it destroyed 100% of Fijiās crops in the countryās hardest hit areas.
- Droughts in Latin America and the Caribbean were especially bad in Central Americaās dry corridor, running through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. The population in this area was primarily subsistence farmers, laborers, landless farmers and female-headed households. Overall, more than 3.5 million people in Central America faced food security as a result of the crisis, in addition to 1.5 million people in Haiti.
Did you know? El NiƱo has an opposite counterpart called La NiƱa. While El NiƱo represents a warm phase, La NiƱa represents a cool phase. La NiƱa often follows El NiƱo a year later.
How does El NiƱo impact girls around the world?
Children, especially girls, are often uniquely vulnerable during crises like El NiƱo, which all too often increase risks such as child marriage, trafficking and gender-based violence. Extreme weather ā whether heavy flooding or too little rain ā can also disrupt education, with girls often forced to drop out due to reduced family incomes, safety concerns or greater household responsibilities. This not only has long-term consequences on their development and life opportunities, but can place girls at risk of violence, early marriage, teenage pregnancy and hunger. In times of crisis, girls, particularly in low-income regions, are also at greater risk of health issues and malnutrition. They are more likely to be forced to leave their homes, which can lead to exploitation and separation from their families. A gender-sensitive approach is vital to address these unique challenges. Weāre already seeing droughts hurt girls in places like Haiti and Somalia, because girls are often responsible for collecting their familiesā water. “It is very difficult to get water in this area,ā Sofiana, a 13-year-old girl in Haiti, told Plan. āThe stream is very far away, and it can take an hour to walk there.ā The long walks can be dangerous, especially if girls have to walk at night. If they walk during the day, they risk missing school. In Somalia, droughts have already caused families to migrate and, in some cases, resort to child marriage. āWe came here during the last drought,ā Qadan says from a displacement camp in Somaliland. āWe donāt have jobs or any cattle. All 150 of our cows died due to the drought.ā With no income or food to feed their children, Qadan and her husband decided to marry off their 15- and 16-year-old daughters. āWe are not happy with what we did,ā Qadan says. āWe wanted the girls to go to school, but we couldnāt afford it and thought marriage would be beneficial for them.ā Now, 13-year-old Khadra fears that she may be next. āI miss my married sisters,ā she says. āThey were supposed to be here and support me. I want them to come back. The reason why they married men is because of the drought that happened to us.ā Ā
How might El NiƱo impact people who are already in crisis?
Plan is already responding to a hunger crisis in Africa and Haiti caused by a deadly combination of supply chain shortages, conflict and climate change. Weāve seen that, when food is scarce in many places around the world, girls often eat less ā and last.Ā
Is El NiƱo part of global warming and/or climate change?
No ā El NiƱo has been occurring for thousands of years, and will continue into the future. However, there is increasing evidence that human-driven climate change is amplifying the frequency and strength of El NiƱo events. In fact, El NiƱo is anticipated to exacerbate global warming, potentially leading to the global temperature temporarily surpassing the 1.5Ā°C warming threshold at multiple points between 2023 and 2024. This is why it’s especially important that communities have the resources they need to prepare and respond to these events.
You can help girls and their communities prepare for El NiƱo and recover from extreme weather events with a gift to Planās Humanitarian Response Fund.
Read: Meet the girls engineering a more sustainable future Ā
What do we know about this yearās El NiƱo?
Scientists first declared the presence of this seasonās El NiƱo conditions in June of 2023. Since then, hereās what the U.N.ās Food and Agriculture Organization has said we can expect:
- Eastern Africa is likely to see above-average rainfall, which could help the region recover from years of drought. However, it could also contribute to flooding and landslides, especially in eastern Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and southern Uganda.
- Most of Southern Africa is expected to receive below-average rainfall, affecting agriculture-based economies. Many countries in this region lost crops last year due to cyclones. The anticipated drought conditions are likely to exacerbate food insecurity, particularly affecting children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and older people.
- Asia and the Pacific region often experience contrasting impacts during El NiƱo events. While some areas can expect drier conditions and more typhoon activity, others are preparing for above-average rainfall and cyclone activity. In the 2015-2016 season, both Vanuatu and the Philippines experienced cyclones followed by droughts.
- Latin America and the Caribbean are still recovering from the 2020 hurricane season, the strongest on record for the region. This yearās El NiƱo will likely bring dry conditions with below-average rainfall. Some areas of Central America have already lost crops due to drier weather and have delayed planting new seeds. Meanwhile, the government of Colombia estimates that about 9.4 million acres of crops are under high threat of El NiƱo-induced drought, and many animals risk being affected and displaced.
How does Plan prepare for emergencies?
We work with girls and their communities to plan for possible disasters and minimize the damage. If something does happen, weāre ready with immediate support designed to meet girlsā unique needs. For example, Plan is working with young leaders in flood-prone communities in the Philippines. Aires, 19, is part of a group of young people organized by Plan who are working to keep themselves and their families safe should disaster strike. āMy own family has felt the effects of the changing climate,ā she says. āFloods are getting worse and becoming more unpredictable and our fishing practices are being impacted.ā Through Planās training, Aires helped to identify community hazards through risk mapping exercises and come up with solutions to tackle them. She created a disaster preparedness plan for her family to follow in case of an emergency and helped develop inclusive and risk-informed flood plans for the wider community. With Planās vast network of local leaders, this essential work is saving lives ā and, itās only possible with support from people like you.
What is Plan doing to prepare for the impact of the next El NiƱo?
Around the world, weāre stepping up early action to prepare for this yearās El NiƱo. Working hand in hand with local communities, we are supporting children and their families to prepare for and withstand disasters, saving lives while protecting livelihoods and children’s futures. Plan International is actively coordinating with U.N. agencies and expanding preparedness efforts globally, focusing on the countries where El NiƱo is expected to have the most significant impact. Our response includes addressing the critical issue of food security by working to meet the rising food aid needs and providing support in regions directly affected by El NiƱo:
- In Asia, we are working to address funding challenges, conduct small-scale responses in Indonesia and have an Emergency Response Team ready for deployment in the Philippines, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea.
- In East and Southern Africa, we are preparing for drought and flooding, securing funds for early action, sharing early warning information and providing training and resources for disaster risk management.
- In the Central Sahel region of Africa, we are preparing a response to increased food prices caused by El NiƱo.
- In Central and South America, our offices have developed anticipatory response plans, including protection measures, food security initiatives and health services. We are planning to provide health support, cash, basic supplies, infrastructure improvements and capacity strengthening for at-risk communities.
Ā
How can I help Plan respond after a disaster happens?
Plan works with communities to respond to their individual needs. Because we know that girlsā unique needs are often overlooked in times of crisis, we make sure to distribute items like menstrual pads as part of our responses, along with other essentials like shelter, food and clean water. When an earthquake hit western Nepal on Nov. 3, local Plan staff acted quickly to provide 500 families with lifesaving items like blankets and tarps. We also build safe spaces where children can learn and play while their parents run errands, and connect families with mental health services. This is a unique situation ā we donāt always know when a disaster will strike. Your gift today can help communities around the world prepare for the impact of El NiƱo.
- Insights
Special thanks to the staff members in the Plan International Burkina Faso office who assembled this case study, including Thaddee Mukezabatware, Marie-NoĆ«l Maffon and Elise Cannuel. Read the full report.Ā The Central Sahel countries ā Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger āhave been affected by an unprecedented food crisis due to protracted conflict, the global economic crisis and the effects of climate change. In response, Plan International and its partners have implemented innovative school feeding initiatives. In a crisis context, school feeding interventions help to keep children in school, giving them good learning conditions while improving their nutritional status. Moreover, school attendance protects children against various types of rights violations, especially girls, who are more exposed to gender-based violence in times of crisis. Read: Central Sahel Hunger Crisis Fact Sheet Ā The school garden initiative was implemented from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 as part of a food security and nutrition response project. The strategy included large community mobilization, with the recruitment of three local staff (including two women) to implement the school gardensā activities. In addition, the project involved the provincial services of the Ministries of Education and Agriculture, as well as Parents and Mothersā associations and COGES in each school. Selection criteria of the schools that participated in the project included:
- Availability of a borehole or waterpoint and a functional canteen.
- A schoolyard large enough to set up the garden (minimum of 0.25 hectares).
- Previous experience in gardening activities.
- Accessibility to ease the projectās supervision.
- Motivation and engagement of the school actors.
Key results
- 12 schools in Kaya, Boussouma and Kongoussi communes were reached.
- The schools were provided with farming tools, some adapted for children (watering cans, hoes, etc.), materials for building fences, sprayers, protective equipment and agricultural inputs (improved seeds, plant protection products, manure).
- 427 participants (students, teachers, members of parentsā and mothersā associations) were trained in agricultural practices, harvesting techniques, post-harvest management and techniques for preserving fresh harvested products, including 212 girls/women (50 IDPs and 162 from host community) and 215 boys/men (29 IDPs and 186 from host community).
- 5,470 students in total were reached, including 2,825 girls (1,017 IDPs and 1,808 from host community) and 2,645 boys (1,010 IDPs and 1,635 from host community).
- 7 positive boreholes have been rehabilitated or constructed.
- Approximate harvest quantities:
- 3 tons of onions.
- 1 tons of cabbage.
- 1 ton of tomatoes.
- 5 tons of purple eggplant.
- 4 tons of local eggplant.
- In smaller quantities, depending on the school: potatoes, corn, onion leaves and beans leaves.
- 101 children have set up gardens at home, putting into practice what they have learned through the project:
- 49 children in the Kaya commune, including 18 girls.
- 39 children in the Boussouma commune, including 22 girls.
- 13 children in the Kongoussi commune, including three girls.
āThe children are super-interested. Both girls and boys want to give their best. But at this rate, the girls are beating the record! The garden allows teachers to give practical courses in agriculture, and that will assist the children in their lives. There are children who replicate these activities at home.ā ā Fabienne Nikiema, agriculture animator of the project in the Centre-North region
Lessons learned
- The schools were selected on the basis of their capacity to implement school gardens and their interest. The criteria defined at the beginning of the project were extended to include private schools.
- Income from the sale of surplus has enabled parentsā associations and mothersā associations to purchase condiments for the canteens.
- The strong involvement of parents has alleviated the burden of maintaining the gardens, and has given students the time they need to do their homework.
- Human-powered pumps can break down and can be difficult for children to use. The construction of piped water towers in each of the 12 schools would enable the children to be more independent in tending the garden and make this task less tiring.
- It would be important to monitor the impact of the school gardens on student attendance by collecting data. Even though there was an overall increase in attendance, particularly from internally displaced children, as well as an increase in presence at school until the end of the day, particularly from children living far from the school.
- Collecting data on the improvement of the childrenās nutritional status would also be relevant.
- Many other schools in the Centre-North have expressed an interest in setting up school gardens. This initiative needs to be scaled up in collaboration with local partners.
Challenges
- Lack of space, the school yards often being used to build classrooms to accommodate internally displaced students.
- Limited water resources.
- Breakdowns of water pumps installed by the project, costly to repair.
- Insufficient involvement of certain parents and teachers.
- Inconsistent and inadequate food supplies deliveries by state services.
Perspective: implementation of integrated hydroponic systems in the school gardens
Integrated hydroponic systems (i.e., soil-less agriculture with poultry and fish farming methods) are an innovative technology combining gardening and poultry and fish farming that could be adapted to the Burkinabe context using locally sourced materials and integrated to the school gardens to achieve a reliable supply of fresh nutrient-dense and animal-sourced foods to feed students. An integrated hydroponic system is shaped like a pyramid with poultry cage on top, a fish basin at the base and vegetables growing on a grid all around. These systems require little space and water resources, so they could help to overcome the challenges encountered during the implementation of school gardens. To enable Plan International Burkina Faso to design this innovative pilot project, a literature review was carried out and numerous resources were used, including those collected by Plan International Canada from various Country and National Offices, but also through testing hydroponic school gardens in Zimbabwe with the support of Plan International Germany. Several field visits were carried out by the projectās team and feasibility has been studied, including hygiene and safety aspects. Partners have already been identified to provide technical support: the National Federation of Young Agricultural Professionals and the Nazi Boni University. The implementation of integrated hydroponic systems in the school gardens set up in the Centre-North could:
- Improve the reliability and duration of growing fresh nutrient-rich foods to supply to school canteens.
- Increase the technical empowerment of students, parents and other education actors in managing integrated hydroponic production for school canteens.
- Support hands-on learning in nutrition education, sciences and technology, as well as the transfer of skills, among vulnerable crisis-affected boys and girls.
Read: The state of positive youth development in Ghana For more information about Planās programming in the Central Sahel region, please contact Planās Central Sahel Response Information and Communication Coordinator Elise Cannuel at [email protected].
- Blog
Thereās no denying that 2023 was a difficult year for gender equality. Natural disasters, war, migration, inflation and a global hunger crisis exacerbated the challenges that girls and their communities were already facing.Ā
But it is during our most challenging times that we have the opportunity for the greatest acts of kindness. This year, we came together to let girls know that they are seen, that they will not be left behind and that hope is not lost.
And, this December, Plan USA celebrated the end of our five-year We Are the Girls campaign. Thanks to the support of donors like you, we impacted the lives of 15.5 million people and exceeded our goal to raise $200 million in support of projects designed for and with girls.Ā
To celebrate the end of the campaign and help you feel inspired for all that youāve accomplished ā and all that we can accomplish together in the year to come ā here are 13 photos illustrating a small slice of the impact you made for girls and communities in 2023 and beyond.
1. You inspired girls like Erika to dream big ā and helped to make that dream a reality!
āIndigenous women, for the most part, do not study,ā Erika says. āMany think that sending a girl to school is throwing away money. Why would a girl study if she has to stay at home to clean, cook and take care of the children?ā
Growing up in a traditional Kichwa community in the Andes Mountains, college seemed like an impossible dream for her. Then, Erika became a Plan sponsored child when she was 8 years old. Over the years, she received encouragement and support from her sponsor. As she got older, she participated in Plan leadership programs, which helped to build her confidence, and after graduating from high school, she was awarded a scholarship from Plan to attend university.
āI have told my classmates at university, and in fact all the women in my community, that we must raise our voices, that we must all collaborate, so that other women can hear us and change their lives,ā Erika says. āIf we can help one person, it will help many others.
Erika, 21, is a former sponsored child who received a scholarship from Plan to attend university.
2. You helped girls like Nokuthula stay safe and educated.
In a rural community in Zimbabwe, girls were walking incredibly long and unsafe distances to school, facing abuse and harassment from men along the way. Then, to be closer to school, they started sleeping in an abandoned shed behind a liquor store ā and the abuse continued.
The Graduation Project made it possible for the girls to bring their dream dormitory to life. The girls worked directly with Plan staff to design two boarding houses from start to finish, requesting things like female dorm matrons, highly secured fences and a school garden. Living peacefully in the beautiful safe space they need, the girls are now able to stay in school and graduate.
āMy life has since changed and everyone sees in me as a healthy girl who is at peace,ā Nokuthula, one of the girls living in the dorms, says. āI enjoy comfortable nights now, as it is my first time ever to leave the mat and sleep in a bed. At home, my parents are the only ones who own a bed.ā
Nokuthula, 16, participated in The Graduation Project, supported by Planās We Are the Girls campaign.
3. You amplified the voices of young activists like Roshani.
Roshani, 19, lives in a town in Nepal that borders India. Through Planās PROTECT project, supported by the We Are the Girls campaign, she became an active campaigner against human trafficking, spreading awareness in her community.
āI believe that we have been trusted with the work we continue to do in our community,ā Roshani says. āI now realize that all the dots are connected to form one line.ā
More than 15,000 people in India and Nepal received information on trafficking risks and available support programs through information centers established by the PROTECT project.
Roshani, 19, is raising awareness about the dangers of trafficking in her community in Nepal.
4. You helped young women like Eliza kick-start their careers.
Planās Connection to Success project in Guatemala, supported by the We Are the Girls campaign, is improving economic opportunities for young people through activities such as entrepreneurship training, startup funding, vocational training and internships. Through the project, Eliza, 23, got a job at a hotel kitchen.
āI feel happy for the space I have been given in the Connection to Success project,ā Eliza says. āMy mom says she sees changes in my life. I tell her what I learned in the employment sessions. She tells me not to stop, to put everything into practice, and to keep growing.ā
Eliza, 23, participated in Planās Connection to Success project in Guatemala.
5. You planted seeds of hope for children in Niger.
To respond to the hunger crisis affecting the Central Sahel region of Africa, Plan created school gardening clubs and school meal programs in countries like Niger and Burkina Faso. Through these projects, schools are provided with seeds and gardening tools, while teachers and students are taught how to grow and produce their own food. Planās school meal programs are effective both in mitigating hunger and sustaining school attendance. With school gardens, students eat a nutritious lunch, and parents are motivated to send them to school, knowing they will at least be fed there.
Students tend to their school garden in Niger.
6. You supported Champions of Change like Dayana.
More than half of women in El Salvador have experienced some form of violence.
But youāre giving girls hope through your support for Champions of Change, a project supported by the campaign in El Salvador. Girls who participate in this project are learning important life skills, including how to lean on their peers for help. And, theyāre sharing what theyāve learned with other young people in their communities.
āKnowing about issues of gender, violence and others have made me see the world differently, and having participated in other spaces helped me feel more secure in my abilities and skills,ā Dayana says. āI have developed my inner power and it has allowed me to be a leader in my community to empower more girls.ā
āThe project has changed my life,ā Dayana, who participated in one of the Plan projects supported by the campaign in El Salvador, says.
7. You inspired entrepreneurship and helped women like Era launch their own businesses.
In Indonesia, women earn 23% less than men on average, and high-paying jobs are dominated by men. Young women need more, better options.
The GIRL 2.0 project, supported by Plan’s We Are the Girls campaign, focuses on providing young people, especially women, with the skills, resources and connections they need to start their own businesses. Through the project, young entrepreneurs learn technical skills like product development and financial management, while strengthening key life skills like decision-making. They work with mentors to develop business plans and, as the project progresses, pitch their ideas to panels of judges for seed capital. Local entrepreneurs are invited to network with project participants to build support and resources so young peopleās businesses are successful.
Era, 23, started a business selling ornamental plants in Indonesia, with support from the project. Now, she encourages other young people to follow in her footsteps with this advice: āDonāt be afraid to start a business. By becoming an entrepreneur, we can improve our familyās well-being, and ourselves as well.ā
Era, 23, started her own business selling ornamental plants after participating in Planās GIRL 2.0 project in Indonesia.
8. You helped to keep adolescent girls safe during crises like war and natural disasters.
Your gifts to Planās emergency response in Syria are providing girls and their families with the resources they need to rebuild and recover from the massive earthquakes that devastated the country last February.
Plan worked with local partners to rehabilitate six water networks and tanks, benefiting more than 100,000 people in Aleppo and Latakia.
To address the protection risks that adolescent girls and women face while living in shelters, Plan helped to install two gender-segregated bathrooms in a shelter in Aleppo, each equipped with four shower stalls.
“These shower facilities ensure that girls, in particular, have their privacy and protection while maintaining their dignity,ā Sara, who lives in a shelter with her family, says. āWe no longer have to worry about disturbing each otherās space, and can clean ourselves in an environment that respects our need for privacy. ā¦ This newfound sense of protection has lifted a heavy burden from our shoulders, and we feel safer and more secure within these walls.ā
Sara feels safer now that Plan has installed gender-segregated bathrooms in the shelter where sheās staying with her family.
9. You involved boys in the fight for equality ā and helped to level the playing field!
Through gender equality clubs, girls and boys around the world unite to build the confidence they need to become leaders and advocates of equality. Together, they share ideas about what change could look like in their communities and gather support. Boys reflect on their privileges and the ways they might perpetuate inequality in order to challenge machismo culture and support girls and women in their lives. Meanwhile, girls identify how being female affects their lives and how their experiences may be different from their male peers. Together, they practice what they learn through soccer games and other structured activities.
Boys and girls play soccer together and work as a team in Vietnam.
10. You protected migrating girls and families.
Planās Protected Passage project provided a lifeline for adolescent girls and families affected by migration in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. The project helped to fill critical service gaps, including psychosocial support and protection services.
āPlan International helped me see what I want for myself,ā one adolescent girl living in a shelter in Mexico says. āI have to take care of myself so that I don’t damage my future and can get ahead in life.ā
Adolescent girls participate in an activity organized by Plan in the shelter where they are staying in Mexico.
11. You fought against period stigma.
For a long time, 15-year-old Theresia dreaded going to school when she had her period.
āWhen I saw my female classmate being shamed when she had a leak in class, my fear grew even bigger,ā Theresia recalls. āI promised myself I would never let anybody know when I was on my period; I would rather suffer in silence.ā
It was only after attending a training session on menstrual health organized by Plan at her school that Theresia’s perspective started to change. She learned that menstruation was a natural process and should be discussed openly.
Planās mobile menstrual health lab has been visiting schools in Tanzaniaās Kigoma and Geita region since it was set up in 2022. The labs have become a hub of knowledge, dispelling myths and misconceptions surrounding menstruation while fostering an environment where questions are welcomed, and discussions are encouraged.
“I used to fear going to school during my period, but now I know it’s natural,ā Theresia says. āI won’t let it stop me, and I want every girl to feel the same way.ā
Theresia decided to take action by organizing a series of meetings for other girls in her school. More than 150 adolescent girls attended the awareness raising sessions.
“Theresia showed us that we can talk about this openly,ā Dina, one of the girls who attended the meetings, shares. āWe don’t have to hide anymore.ā
Young people in Tanzania learn about menstrual health at Planās mobile lab.
12. You helped children like Thailan continue to participate in sponsorship.
People like you sponsor thousands of children in need through Plan. When youĀ become a sponsor,Ā you can help a child receive an education, have access to clean water and healthcare and be protected from violence.
Thailan, age 5, is a sponsored child with Plan who lives in Cambodia. She attends the pre-school in her community which was built by Plan.
Plan has constructed more than 400 pre-schools in Cambodia over the past 20 years. In most areas where Plan works, children under 5 now have access to early childhood care and development. More parents are sending their children to pre-school and investing in their education from an early age.
Thailan, age 5, is a Plan sponsored child in Cambodia.
13. You created a ripple effect by supporting a network of young leaders here in the U.S.
Gender inequality exists everywhere, including the U.S., so Plan USA works with young people here, too, to fight against it.
One of the ways we do that is through ourĀ Youth Leadership AcademyĀ ā a yearlong leadership program dedicated to training, supporting and mentoring young activists in the U.S. as they seek to create positive change in their communities.
In July, Plan gathered more than 40 young people from across the U.S. together for a four-day residential academy in Washington, D.C., with activities including a panel on youth in politics, a deep dive session focused on the sustainable development goals related to climate change and gender equality, and a model U.N. session.
One of the most important activities is participantsā leadership projects. Throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, YLA participants design, create and implement a project in their community on the social justice issue of their choice. The young leaders meet online with Plan staff and mentors from Planās Youth Advisory Board, attend skill-building webinars and access seed funding to launch their projects in their communities!
Four YLA participants stand in front of the White House during their stay in D.C.
Your support gives us hope and inspires us to work harder every day. We look forward to all of the positive change we will create together with girl leaders in 2024!
- News & press
PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC, December 22, 2023 ā Plan International is leading innovations to better ensure that young women can benefit from the economic growth opportunity that industrial parks provide ā and that the same innovations are good for the regionās local businesses and community. Developed in partnership with the U.S. government and The Childrenās Place, the Hawassa Industrial Parkās community-based childcare model is demonstrating positive economic outcomes for women, children and the private sector in Ethiopia.
The Government of Ethiopia has invested nearly $1 billion in 32 industrial parks, primarily focusing on textile manufacturing where 94% of the workforce are females and three fourths are ages 18-24. These investments are meant to transform the economy and reduce poverty; however, realizing the full benefit of these those goals requires non-traditional support systems.
To assist the Hawassa Industrial Park improve worker performance and productivity and reduce attrition, Plan and USAID have created a worker wellness program to ensure that potential employees understand their future roles and are connected with local services. As most employees relocate to be near the plant, they benefit from connections with fair housing, an understanding of the community they are joining and how to access essential needs. For the largely young and female workforce at Hawassa, this includes childcare services and early childhood development programs.
Partnering with The Childrenās Place, childcare centeres have been created to support over 200 children each year. Workers have reported lower absenteeism from work, improved productivity and increased participation in work, leading to increases in their pay.
āThe workforce at Ethiopiaās Hawassa Industrial Park, which is predominantly composed of young women, is impacted by a shortage of quality early childhood care and education in the region,ā Adrian Sherman, Vice President of Environment & Social Responsibility at The Childrenās Place said. āBy establishing a safe and dependable daycare center, we have helped to relieve that impact and, importantly, contribute to advancing gender equality and financial independence for women in the region. We take great pride in our partnership with Plan International in helping to promote worker well-being and provide families a reliable and nurturing childcare option in Hawassa.ā
As industrial parks continue to expand across Africa, there is an opportunity to replicate this childcare service model for improved outcomes for women, children and private sector partners.
āSending my child to the Plan run childcare center in Cheffe is the single most important decision I have made in my life,ā Debretu, a 24-year-old operator at a garment manufacturing company, said. āThe Center has made it possible for me to work and at the same time, for my child to be in a safe and caring environment. As you can imagine, I can now work free of any stress and give my best to my job.ā
By investing in the set-up of community-owned and operated childcare services targeted to the employment demographics of industrial parks, companies will see higher returns on their investments while driving sustainable ESG agendas. For young women like Debretu, the investment is one in their and their childās future as well.
For more information or interviews, please contact:
Maria Holsopple
Director, Communications & Creative Services
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 540.383.3628
About Plan International USA
Powered by supporters, Plan International USA partners with adolescent girls, young women and children around the world to overcome oppression and gender inequality. We provide the support and resources that are unique to their needs and the needs of their communities, ensuring they achieve their full potential with dignity, opportunity and safety. Founded in 1937, Plan is an independent development and humanitarian organization that is active in more than 80 countries.
For more information, and to learn about our commitment to safeguarding, please visit www.PlanUSA.org.
About The Children’s Place
The Children’s Place is an omni-channel children’s specialty portfolio of brands with an industry-leading digital-first model. Its global retail and wholesale network includes four digital storefronts, more than 500 stores in North America, wholesale marketplaces and distribution in 16 countries through six international franchise partners. The Children’s Place is proud to be a women-led Company, including industry-leading gender diversity in senior management and throughout all levels of its workforce, and of its commitment to sustainable business practices that benefit its customers, associates, investors, suppliers and the communities it serves. The Children’s Place designs, contracts to manufacture, and sells fashionable, high-quality apparel, accessories and footwear predominantly at value prices, primarily under its proprietary brands: “The Children’s Place”, “Gymboree”, “Sugar & Jade”, and “PJ Place”. For more information visit: www.childrensplace.com, www.gymboree.com, www.sugarandjade.com and www.pjplace.com, as well as the Company’s social media channels on Instagram, Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.
- Blog
This is a guest blog post written by Elsa, a high school student based in Washington, D.C.
As ice caps melt and natural disasters intensify, women experience the biggest impacts.
When hosts of natural disasters borne by heat and human irresponsibility sweep the globe, the ensuing conflict makes women and girls even more vulnerable to gender-based violence. Additionally, it creates a peril that women are also more vulnerable to: the destruction of natural resources. Women of color, LGBTQIA+ women, migrant women and many other marginalized groups are especially at risk from the instability resulting from climate disaster.Ā As injustices intersect, climate change can worsen gender disparities ā but uplifting girls and women under two key areas can create positive change.
1. Farming and natural resources
Women are more at risk when disaster strikes natural resources. Since the man is viewed as theĀ āhead of household,āĀ his nutritional needs too often come first when disaster strikes. Furthermore,Ā barriers to education and informationĀ conspire to prevent women from receiving information on crop patterns and natural disasters, and from innovating to respond to them. And in addition to this increased vulnerability to climate change, women already have less access to the rapidly declining backbones of life, like crops and building materials.
Girls also bear the worldwide burden in collecting water, meaning in times of drought (which are more and more common due to climate change), girls are more likely than boys to drop out of school. On top of this, women are repeatedly marginalized from farming, being characterized asĀ āthe farmerās assistantsāĀ across the world. Yet, studies show that maternal income plays a much greater role than the income of fathers in improving family nutrition and childrenās survival rates.
Empowering women farmers would improve land use efficiency and increase crop yields, serving as a bastion against deforestation, starvation and other effects of climate change. Women have always been stewards of natural resources ā food, plants, water ā so with training, women can use these traditional roles and newfound knowledge to create new, sustainable solutions to climate issues.
2. Education
Itās not just that women and girls are more vulnerable to climate change, theyāre also discouraged from working to solve it.Ā Well below 10%Ā of climate tech startup funding goes toward women. This means itās essential to give girls and women the training and financial support required to participate in fields previously made unavailable to them ā not just for gender equality, but also for climate justice. Because what if we could work toward both at once?
A2013 studyĀ cited by Project Drawdown, a climate justice nonprofit, found that educating girls is āthe single most important social and economic factor associated with a reduction in vulnerability to natural disasters.ā This could be because educated girls receive higher wages, experience lower rates of maternal mortality and are less vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and malaria ā the āsocial vaccine effect.ā
How young people are taking action
An intersectional approach to climate justice is key. Women-led initiatives and nonprofits are taking this kind of climate action every day, but they need more support. Womenās solutions for development remain heavily underfunded. And, overall, nonprofit organizations like Plan that focus on girls and women receiveĀ less than 2%Ā of all charitable giving.
One example of the power of investing in women is thriving businesswoman, Gladness Gilole. Gladness is a mentor for girls in her northern Tanzanian village of Sale. She participated in an environmental entrepreneurship training through the U.N.āsĀ Energize Project, which helped her launch her career.
āI moved back to Sale and now I own a farm, manage a tailoring business and I sell and install solar equipment,ā Gladness says.
Including girls in the climate conversation like this means more than simply listening to their perspectives āĀ it means elevating pre-existing solutions by girls, for girls, and embracing locally-led development.
Young people like Gladness are leading the charge for climate justice across the world. But young women still have to jump significant systemic hurdles to participate in climate leadership roles.
Girls for Climate Action, a youth-led movement, makes it possible for girls to prototype and launch climate change solutions. The organization has helped place young women in leadership roles on historically male-dominated local environmental committees, emphasizing the importance of leadership in the fight for climate action and gender justice.Ā Sometimes, it just takes one person to change a community.
And, at Texas State University, students are transforming the way we interact with our climate. The unruly hyacinth, an aquatic plant, grows rapidly over the banks of the San Marcos River, blocking sunlight and oxygen from reaching the placid water below. If not removed, it has the potential to crowd out biodiversity by preventing nearby plants from performing photosynthesis. But local youth are fighting back. As part of theĀ HEDGEĀ team, TSU students sail the river, cutting excess water hyacinth and sending it to industrial-grade ovens to be dried and mixed with cotton, transforming the hyacinth fibers into biodegradable menstrual products!
Many HEDGE members are young women. Graduate studentĀ Wren VogelĀ says participating in HEDGE has inspired her to continue discovering āhow we can take something harmful and use it to make something good.ā And utilizing the water hyacinthās natural capabilities to make pads does create the perfect balance, strengthening the riverās ecosystem while decreasing menstrual inequities. By inviting youth to be part of the solution to local climate nightmares and global period poverty, HEDGE is one of the many initiatives springing up that use the voices of young women to combat climate change and gender inequality.
As part of my own personal advocacy work, I spoke on a NOAA youth climate panel and was happy to see that many of the faces I was addressing belonged to girls. Some of these young women have gone on to make highly innovative projects (such asĀ Kennesha Gargās mangrove root prototype to reach and manage greenhouse gasses in landfills). Others were already trailblazing in their own communities.Ā Working toward gender justice is not wiping a slate clean or reinventing the wheel ā itās elevating the passion that girls and women across the globe have for the climate, and making it known to the world.Ā
So, when you think of climate change, forest fires and melting ice might come to mind. But so should the many girls and women who are fighting to improve their lives while helping their environment. As Vanessa Nakate, a Ugandan climate change activist, says: āWe canāt have climate justice without gender equality ā¦ we need women in spaces where decisions on their wellbeing are discussed, especially decisions about the future of the planet.ā
- News & press
PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 14. 2023 ā Plan International USA surpassed itsā $200 million fundraising goal for its We Are the Girls campaign. The funds raised as part of the campaign are supporting girl-led programs that fight gender inequality internationally and in the U.S.
Over the past five years, the campaign has impacted the lives of more than 15.5 million people through programs focused on girlsā unique needs. In a quest to change the way the world sees girls, and the way girls see themselves, Plan developed an approach called GirlEngage. GirlEngage places girls at the center and includes them as a critical partner from program design to implementation to evaluation.
āWe set out to ensure that girls were safe, educated and economically empowered,ā Shanna Marzilli, chief executive officer and president of Plan International USA, said. āWhat we found is that girls are best positioned to understand and solve the challenges they face. When given resources and opportunities, they can lead positive change in their communities.ā
An example of GirlEngage in action is The Graduation Project in Zimbabwe, which is focused on increasing the number of girls who complete secondary school. Many girls travelled long distances to school and would stay in unsafe places, like abandoned buildings, during the week to avoid the lengthy trip. When Plan decided to build dormitories, it was assumed girls would want things like WiFi and technology. However, when asked, girls were most concerned about safety, requesting features like a barbed wire fence and a female security guard. This challenged assumptions, but allowed for a dorm to be built that better fit the needs of girls. As one participant noted, āthis project is for us, by us.ā Today, the dormitories are at full capacity.
āGirlEngage is providing girls with the tools to choose their future rather than have it dictated for them,ā Vicki Escarra, campaign cabinet chair and senior advisor at Boston Consulting Group, said. āI have been so inspired not only by the girls themselves, but also by those who saw the potential of girls and have supported this campaign. I am excited to see what can be accomplished next!ā
Inspired by the suite of projects developed by We Are the Girls, Plan mobilized support from nearly 300,000 individual, corporate and foundation donors. The resources raised by the campaign were also used in the U.S. to partner with young people through leadership training community-building. In addition, Plan worked with Unsplash, the internetās source of freely usable visuals, to portray girls on their own terms and change Unsplashās search algorithm to feature real, confident girls.
Building on the campaignās successes, Plan is creating additional programs in new communities to inspire even more transformational change alongside adolescent girls. As the world faces crises and growing inequality, you can join in the fight to achieve gender equality by joining Planās community of We Are the Girls activists.
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For more information or interviews, please contact:
Maria Holsopple
Director, Communications and Creative Services
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 540.383.3628
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About Plan International USA
Powered by supporters, Plan International USA partners with girls and their communities around the world to overcome oppression and gender inequality. We provide the support and resources that are unique to their needs and the needs of their communities, ensuring they achieve their full potential with dignity, opportunity and safety. Founded in 1937, Plan is an independent development and humanitarian organization that is active in more than 80 countries.
For more information, and to learn about our commitment to safeguarding, please visit www.PlanUSA.org.
- Report & Resource
This year Plan Internationalās State of the Worldās Girls Report focuses on activism. It provides a unique insight from over a thousand participants into what itās like to be an adolescent girl or young woman activist in 2023: how are they treated, do they feel safe, what keeps them going? The research, one of the largest studies of girl and young women activists to date, is groundbreaking, not least because the face-to-face interviews were led by 70 young women researchers who are themselves activists and their findings are supported by focus group discussions using participatory techniques.
