We offer free training in various skills for the economic empowerment of girls to reduce the likelihood of compromising their right to bodily integrity for financial returns.

GPI girls learn that it is more hygienic to utilise sanitary towels or menstrual napkins rather than tissue paper during menstruation. But where do they get the money for these items which are relatively more expensive? When girls end up receiving constant favours from their friends, they end up being pressured into sex. GPI girls are advised in the course of their programme not to accept money and gift in exchange for their right to bodily integrity.

However, the fact remains that poverty can make the girl deaf to this advice and cause her to satisfy her need sometimes including the need for food and school fees at the expense of her health. To help them resist this pressure, the need was found to teach them some economic skills. Periodically, the girls are assembled for skills training sessions in each centre where they learn to produce simple things to meet their material needs either directly or by sale of such items to meet these needs.

They are also taught agro allied and industrial skills and the centres are currently in the process of marketing such products as body creams, hair shampoos, insect repellants, shoes, bags that were produced at such sessions.

Added to the economic skills are other basic skills such as sewing, auto-mechanics and electricity which have been taught so that the girls possess the basic knowledge of sewing, the parts and functions of cars and basics of electricity.