Practitioners supporting adolescent girls affected by displacement, gender-based violence, isolation or family stress may find this curriculum useful for structured group work. It is written for facilitators running safe, supportive sessions with girls aged 11 to 18, with separate activities for younger teens and older teenagers where the content needs to differ.
In women and girls’ safe spaces, community centres, refugee support programmes or youth wellbeing groups, the manual can be used as a 12-week adolescent girls curriculum with 24 two-hour learning sessions. The programme focuses on safety, wellbeing, life skills and protection from gender-based violence.
The sessions are organised around practical themes including getting to know each other, identifying personal skills, making and keeping friends, relationships with parents and caregivers, non-verbal communication, decision making, problem solving, managing emotions, confidence and self-esteem.
Health and protection content includes reproductive health, menstruation, hygiene, puberty, sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, with age-appropriate versions for girls aged 11 to 13 and 14 to 18. Later sessions cover stress and feeling sad, types of violence, safety planning, GBV scenarios and responses, and early marriage.
Facilitators are given a clear programme structure that builds trust before sensitive subjects are introduced. The outline also includes positive activities about living in Lebanon, project planning, positive female role models, girl facilitation, a mother and daughter day trip, and a follow-up session.
Likely users include GBV case workers, youth workers, psychosocial support staff, school-based wellbeing teams and NGO facilitators working with refugee girls or vulnerable teenagers. The curriculum was developed by the International Rescue Committee for its Women’s Protection and Empowerment programming.
