WHAT WE DO
Batonga works with adolescent girls on the African continent because this is their reality.
In sub-Saharan Africa, only
37% of women have a bank account, compared with
48% of men, a gap that has only widened over the past several years.
37%
In Central and Western Africa, two in five girls (41%) marry before reaching their 18th birthday. In Benin, one in ten girls (10%) is married under the age of 15 and three out of ten girls are married before they are 18 years old.
41%
31% Percentage of women (aged 20-24 years) married or in union before age 18 (BENIN).
31%
PROGRAMS
ADOLESCENT GIRLS LEADERSHIP
Objective
To build the social, financial, health, civic, and cognitive assets of adolescent girls aged 14 to 18 years old, as well as develop their leadership skills. By offering access to safe spaces and mentors to the hardest-to-reach girls, Batonga supports new generations of girl leaders, and works to transform community norms and beliefs that hold girls back from achieving their full potential.
Our Impact in Benin:
Over 3,000 adolescent girls aged 14-18 have access to safe spaces and weekly classes taught by more than 80 Batonga mentors.
There are more than 160 Adolescent Girls Leadership Clubs in 50 villages and communities throughout central and northern Benin.
Weekly radio programs are broadcast on five community radio stations and reach more than 200,000 people in three zones of intervention where Batonga’s programs are implemented.
WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
Objective
To build sustained economic empowerment and income-generating models for young women aged 18 to 30 years old in rural communities.
By offering access to safe spaces, peer groups, role models and business coaches, the Batonga Foundation supports young women in building and maintaining their economic well being and leadership in local economies.
Our Impact:
Batonga works with over 4,000 young women aged 18-30 in three regions in Benin: Zou, Collines, and Natitingou. These young women receive coaching and capacity building instruction from over 70 business coaches who are successful role models in their communities.
The young women receive coaching and capacity building instruction from 76 business coaches, all of whom are successful role models in their communities.
Batonga’s Women’s Economic Empowerment program also runs two training centers where it offers certified professional training in sewing.
BATONGA MENTORS AND BUSINESS COACHES
Our Mentoring Model
Batonga Foundation’s programs are co-created and led by local women who are intimately familiar with their own village’s context and needs. As we survey and map communities, we also work to recruit motivated, competent local women to serve as mentors and business coaches in our programs.
Our mentors work tirelessly, 24/7 to teach, guide, support and advocate for the girls in our clubs. The work of our mentors and business coaches is at the very core of our programs and nothing that we do could be done without them.
Batonga Foundation mentors and business coaches:
Run the Adolescent Girls Leadership Clubs
Conduct weekly home visits to the girls they are mentoring, engaging their parents and families on issues related to their well-being
Act as advocates for the girls in their families, schools, and communities
Manage the girl-led small businesses, as well as the governance and treasury structures of those affiliated
Coordinate the Young Women Business Circles
Provide professional guidance and network to young women
MEN AND BOYS ENGAGEMENT
Batonga understands that we cannot create a more equitable future without the support and engagement of men and boys. Batonga’s Men and Boys Engagement (MBE) initiative identifies and trains male champions in communities to eliminate the harmful practices that inhibit girls and young women from acquiring the social, cognitive and emotional skills they need to live meaningful and fulfilling lives.
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES FOR CHANGE
In every community, Batonga aims to bring the whole community together. At the local level, Batonga works with leaders and different stakeholders to transform harmful norms and beliefs around girls and equality. At the national level, Batonga builds and nurtures practitioner communities to share evidence-based knowledge and promote innovation.
ADVOCACY FOR
GENDER EQUALITY
NOS VOIX COMPTENT
Objective
The “Nos Voix Comptent” initiative" mobilizes women’s rights organizations, networks and movements in 22 French-speaking countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Together, Nos Voix Comptent members participate and influence the Generation Equality Forum in order to ensure francophone women's priorities and needs are met throughout the entire process.
Our Engagement
A 400+ active network members of women leaders from 22 countries.
NVC hosted regular webinars which helped 270+ leaders understand the Generation Equality Process.
Published the "Nos Voix Comptent Recommendations" after a huge consultation of 1,600+ young women and girls throughout 18 countries in French-speaking Africa.
Published recommendations on digital inclusion for rural francophone African leaders.
Coordinating four working groups led by members who continue to push for their priorities with governments, media, and civil society.
CONVERSATIONS
FOR AFRICA
Objective
With “Conversations For Africa: the Generation Equality Series”, the Batonga Foundation and our founder Angélique Kidjo want to connect audiences and amplify grassroots women’s priorities with high-level African public figures who can build visibility and support for issues on mass scales. The topics selected for this series will mirror the six Generation Equality Forum Action Coalition focuses. The aim is to radically shift the narrative about gender equality on the continent, putting leaders, change-makers and trail-blazers of African descent in the driver’s seat.
Our Engagement
Designed and produced four conversations on the important topics 2021-2022
Sexual and reproductive health and rights
Gender-based violence
Youth Activism and Engagement
Economic Justice and Rights