I created the Women & Girls Program (WGP) at the Juba Public Peace Library to support the education and empowerment of women and girls in South Sudan. We utilized the library to provide a weekly space for girls to gather and listen to diverse community leaders as inspiration for their future, and to provide them with both knowledge and role models who exemplify leadership and opportunities that they may not have imagined existed. The girls are also able to ask guest speakers and community leaders questions, as well as interact with one another in groups. The program took place every Saturday for two hours and featured one speaker per weekend. The speakers presented for 1 – 1.5 hour(s), followed by questions and/or group activities. Each Saturday session focused on an important topic. Examples of some of the topics include, but are not limited to: child early marriage, the inner strength of women, gender-based violence, gender equality, girls in sports, and the importance of education and women’s groups. 

PROGRAM GOALS
1. To create a safe space for women and girls in Juba, South Sudan to come together, talk, listen and learn from mentors and one another.
2. To provide women and girls access to local female leaders to support their empowerment, education and participation in the community, so that they too may aspire to become community leaders and help shape a brighter future for South Sudan.