FINDEF empowers 1,950 out-of-school adolescent girls

Finpact Development Foundation (FINDEF), in partnership with UNICEF Nigeria, have successfully supported out-of-school adolescent girls in Rimi, Mani, and Katsina LGAs of Katsina State through the REACH project weekend.

The FINDEF Representative, Sadiya Badamasi, said the initiative has empowered 1,950 out-of-school adolescent girls by equipping them with practical skills, fostering financial independence, and providing a lifeline to survivors of gender-based violence.

She added that the REACH project has so far tackled the intersecting challenges of poverty, educational exclusion, and gender-based violence head-on through hands-on training in high-demand skills such as knitting, crochet, henna design, cap making, and throw pillow production.

According to her , FINDEF has also opened doors to economic self-reliance for these young girls apart from the 800 previously trained participants received refresher courses, sharpening their expertise and positioning them as peer mentors to inspire and guide newcomers.

Badamasi noted that beyond skills acquisition, FINDEF’s holistic approach has delivered hope and healing to 750 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence by providing psychosocial support alongside sustainable livelihood skills.

She further explained that the project offered these girls a path to recovery and resilience. Local trainers and community leaders have played a pivotal role, ensuring the program’s sustainability and creating a powerful ripple effect of empowerment across Katsina State.

“REACH is more than a skills program – it’s a movement to restore dignity, rebuild confidence, and unlock the potential of adolescent girls who have been left behind.

“These girls are not just learning trades; they’re gaining the power to shape their own futures and uplift their communities.

“Funded by UNICEF Nigeria, this second phase of REACH reflects FINDEF’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights of adolescent girls and breaking the cycle of gender inequality and economic exclusion.

“As the foundation looks ahead, it urges government agencies, development partners, and stakeholders to join hands in addressing the root causes of these challenges and scaling up efforts to reach even more vulnerable girls across Nigeria, ” Badamasi said

The FINDEF Representative highlighted deeply on the significance of the REACH project , saying, “Finpact Development Foundation (FINDEF) is a leading organization dedicated to empowering vulnerable populations, with a special focus on women and youths through innovative programs like REACH, FINDEF.”

“FINDEF works to create lasting change by addressing poverty, gender inequality, and violence while promoting education and economic opportunities,” Sàdiya said.