Recognising that girls face significant internal and external obstacles in accessing health, education, and livelihoods, Girl Effect works to connect them with vital information and resources while challenging societal norms.
Johannesburg, South Africa (18 May 2025) – Girls have the power to achieve great things and do far more than what the world has previously told them they cannot. In the famous words of Beyonce, Girls Run the World.
It is this very belief in young women that powers the non-profit organisation, Girl Effect.
In the world we live in, especially in underserved communities, adolescent girls and young women face internal and external barriers that limit their control over their health, livelihoods, and education.
Recognising that harmful gender norms, systems, and policies still hold girls back, this innovative non-profit works to improve girls’ health, education, and livelihoods by connecting them to life-changing information and resources, thus breaking down barriers they face and unleashing their potential.
The charity also collaborates with girls, their families, and experts to create solutions that connect them to essential support and services.
Recently, Girl Effect joined the Department of Health, South African National Aids Council, Higher Health, and other partners at the ‘Close the Gap Higher Education’ event, which took place on Friday, 9 May, at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT).
The campaign aimed to connect young people with essential health services, encourage HIV testing and treatment, and help close the country’s significant treatment gap.
Girl Effect brought its experience in youth-centred communication, behaviour change, and media to help break down stigma and promote informed, confident decision-making among young people. Its focus was especially on adolescent girls and young women, who remain at higher risk of HIV infection and are often underserved by the health system.
Through its flagship programme, Jik’iZinto, Girl Effect connected young women with transformative health education and digital engagement, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
“Too often, young people face barriers, whether social, structural or emotional, that prevent them from seeking the healthcare they need,” said Dr Lisa Mulenga, Country Director of Girl Effect South Africa.
“At Girl Effect, we work to remove those barriers by creating platforms where young people can access accurate information, engage with relatable content, and feel supported in making decisions about their health.”
Organisations like Girl Effect are fostering hope for a future where young women have improved access to vital services, truly enabling them to achieve great things.
Sources: Supplied
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