Taking StanChart Goal to even greater heights

Published: 22 July 2017

Standard Chartered Goal Programme hosted a two-day summit titled Beyond Girls' Education Global Summit 2017. The summit agenda highlighted the best practises and opportunities to support adolescent girls and young women by empowering them economically and further increase the number of girls who benefit through programmes and initiatives like these.

In South Africa, the Goal programme has 1,272 girls enrolled for the year 2017 up from 600 in 2015 and 750 in 2016 and currently operates in Pretoria Mamelodi. Standard Chartered South Africa has plans of expanding Goal to Johannesburg in 2018. "Partnerships with NGOs, corporate and government who share similar models play an important role in expanding goal," says Geraldine Matchaba Head, Corporate Affairs and Brand & Marketing, South & Southern Africa.

Goal is an initiative that empowers and equips adolescent girls from low-income families in urban areas with confidence, knowledge and skills to ensure they have the opportunity to fulfil their economic potential.

The Goal programme is implemented and delivered in schools and communities, and the curriculum is based on training modules, with play based learning and sport at the core. Modules cover financial education, communication; hygiene and life skills that collectively seek to empower and raise the confidence of young adolescent girls. An additional module was introduced in 2017 which provides practical experience on employability and entrepreneurial skills.

The summit further expanded on the importance of addressing the barriers to girls' empowerment and employing leadership as a tool to take control of their lives and using their voice to influence their communities. Girls live in a diverse world characterised by great pressures and responsibilities, evolving technology and challenges in the job market. The summit unpacked the opportunities and challenges and highlighted the roles of technology and advocacy in girls' empowerment.

Building partnerships to champion adolescent girls and young women is critical to reaching the 600 million adolescent girls living in low income countries. As part of its involvement with the Clinton Global initiative, Standard Chartered committed to reach 600,000 girls though Goal by the end of 2020 and further support 10 000 girls in their transition from secondary education to higher education or work.

Delegates who attended the summit came from across the continent, including, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana Uganda and representation from some Asian markets.
- Agencies

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