Welcome. We’re
Girls First Initiative.
The Girls First Initiative (GFI) in Tanzania is a non-profit organization that advocates for and elevates the voices of young women and girls, particularly those who are vulnerable to sexual harassment. The organization’s mission is to defend women and girls’ constitutionally guaranteed rights. GFI works to eliminate the social and economic conditions that make girls more susceptible to sexual assault, including the lack of access to health services, education, and economic opportunity.
Our Mission
Our Vision
Our Key Objectives
Our Core Values
Our main purpose is to ensure that the voices of the young people and especially girls in our societies are amplified.
Innovation and creativity
Partnership & Influencing
Inclusion and teamwork
We create
We nurture
We transform
NOTE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Girls in their late teenage years, between the ages of 16 and 19, are at a pivotal point in their lives. The opportunities they have in life are heavily influenced by how much time and effort they put into learning and which subjects they focus on the most. Realizing one’s goals in life and one’s career is a powerful motivator for students to work hard in school. In turn, girls’ hopes and ambitions are shaped not only by their natural abilities but also by factors such as their upbringing, social circle, and family dynamics, as well as their exposure to and understanding of the working world. In short, students can’t become what they can’t see.
Through mentorship, innovation, and long-term solutions, Girls First Initiative (GFI) helps girls realize their full potential. Adolescent girls and young women are a priority for us, and we work with them in a respectful manner to improve their quality of life by providing them with opportunities, resources and tools, mentorship and coaching services, and more. As part of our efforts to fulfill our mission, GFI collaborates with a wide range of partners to implement innovative strategies that will ensure the protection of Tanzania’s young women and girls.