Women & Girls Empowerment Programme
Women & Girls Empowerment Programme
Programme Overview
The Women & Girls Empowerment Programme aims to promote gender equality and protect women and girls from all forms of discrimination, violence, and harmful practices based on gender.
Guided by Caritas values of dignity, solidarity, justice, and compassion, the programme works to create supportive environments where women and girls can freely express their potential, actively participate in their communities, and fully access their rights without discrimination.
The programme addresses the root causes of gender-based violence and inequality through community-based interventions, direct services, and partnerships that foster long-term social change.
Vision
Just and safe communities where women and girls enjoy their full rights and actively participate in social and economic life without violence or discrimination.
Mission
To empower women and girls socially, psychologically, and economically, while preventing and responding to all forms of gender-based violence and harmful practices through integrated services, community engagement, and rights-based approaches.
Target Groups
The programme targets:
- Girls under the age of 18.
- Young women and adult women aged 18 and above.
- Mothers and caregivers of girls.
- Out-of-school girls and women who dropped out of education.
- Women and girls living in poor and marginalized rural and urban communities across Upper Egypt, Lower Egypt, and Greater Cairo.
Key Community Challenges
The programme addresses deeply rooted social challenges, including:
- Son preference.
- Early and forced marriage.
- Female genital mutilation (FGM).
- School dropout among girls.
- Domestic violence and sexual harassment.
These practices limit women’s and girls’ access to education, employment, and public life, making women’s empowerment a critical pathway toward equity and social justice.
Areas of Intervention & Impact
- Prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV).
- Monitoring and combating harmful practices, particularly FGM and early marriage.
- Psychosocial support services for women and girls affected by violence.
- Legal counseling and referral services.
- Capacity building of local NGOs and community partners on women’s rights.
- Community awareness campaigns to challenge harmful norms and stereotypes.
Psychosocial and Legal Support
The programme provides individual and group psychosocial support, as well as specialized legal counseling for survivors of violence.
These services help women and girls to:
- Restore a sense of safety and self-confidence.
- Understand their rights and available protection mechanisms.
- Make informed decisions to protect themselves and their families.
Economic and Social Empowerment
The programme supports women and girls to:
- Identify and develop their skills and capacities.
- Access literacy and educational opportunities.
- Participate in vocational training and decent employment.
- Strengthen self-confidence, leadership, and social participation.
Economic empowerment plays a key role in reducing marginalization and enhancing women’s independence and contribution to society.
Programme Impact
- Improved wellbeing and resilience of women and girls.
- Reduced prevalence of harmful practices and gender-based violence.
- Increased access to education, livelihoods, and social participation.
- More inclusive, aware, and equitable communities.
Contact Us
For more information about the Women & Girls Empowerment Programme and its initiatives, please contact us through our official communication channels or follow Caritas on social media platforms.
