Girls With Roots (GWR) is dedicated to empowering adolescent girls through leadership development, mentorship, and community engagement in Trinidad and Tobago. Since launching in 2015, GWR has impacted girls across more than 20 schools and 10 rural and urban communities through in-person and digital programs. GWR’s reported impact includes reduced peer violence in participating schools, increased university applications from girls, and improved job-readiness through mentorship and support.
Many adolescent girls from underserved communities in Trinidad and Tobago face significant challenges due to poverty, gender inequality, and limited access to supportive environments. Lacking safe spaces, role models, and guidance, they navigate adolescence alone, often feeling invisible and powerless. This absence of support can lead to poor self-esteem, disengagement from school, teen pregnancy, violence, and early dropout. Societal pressures and cultural norms further compound these issues, often stifling their leadership potential and dreams.
With support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund, GWR will expand its Girls Meet Program, which creates safe spaces for girls in schools or community spaces. The spaces offer mentorship, peer support, and interactive sessions to help girls build confidence, develop leadership and life skills, and gain exposure to educational and career opportunities. With program design led by girls, the project helps girls find their voice, make informed choices, and envision brighter futures.
GWR expects to engage 200 girls in its programming. Through intentional programming, mentorship, and exposure to opportunities, the organization aims to break cycles of poverty, reduce school-based violence, and foster a strong network of girls who feel empowered to lead and thrive.
To learn more about Girls With Roots, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages:
- Instagram www.instagram.com/girlswithroots/
- Facebook www.facebook.com/girlswithroots/
See more projects: Latin America & the Caribbean