We are a girls’ rights organization

Anthony has a different perspective than most of the other men and boys he knows in Sierra Leone. He can’t stand the way that girls and women are treated.

“Where I’m from is a really rough part of town,” Anthony explains. “It’s a very threatening environment for girls. And for them to make it to college — it’s almost impossible.”

To create change, Anthony joined Plan’s Girls Advocacy Alliance a few years ago. He now walks through communities with girls, megaphone in hand. He knocks on doors with them, talking to neighbors about the importance of reporting sexual assault. And he fights child marriage with them, even helping to stop the forced marriages of two girls in the alliance.

“I want to stand for girls,” Anthony says. “I want boys to look at girls as partners. I want them to see that girls can be more than just wives, more than just mothers. Sometimes I create enemies along the way, but no matter what happens, I’m not going to relent.”

Ana and her family lost everything in the floods of Hurricane Eta.

She was at home with her mom, brother and sister in La Lima municipality when the flood waters began to rise. They had to quickly find the highest building in the community and climb to its roof, along with around 400 other people. The roof wasn’t big enough to hold all of them. And they spent two days trapped there, waiting for help without food or water.

“At night it was freezing, it was horrible,” 17-year-old Ana says. “And during the day it was extremely hot and there was no water. We were all in a panic. The water level was just 20 cm away from reaching us. We told each other that if we drowned, at least they will find us together.”

Plan launched a multi-country response to Hurricanes Eta and Iota, with our teams on the ground providing children and families with clean water, food, child protection services and hygiene kits. Thankfully, Ana and her family were brought to safety by a rescue boat and are now receiving full support from Plan.

“I’ve been a warrior and have accomplished many things by myself,” Ana says. “So, I said, ‘Why not this one?’”

When Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique last year, thousands of people were displaced by the disaster. Things became especially difficult for girls, who were left without access to menstrual products.

Fifteen-year-old Domingas can’t always afford menstrual pads. “They are so expensive, so I cannot buy them every month,” she says. “I make pads with pieces of cloth. But they are uncomfortable because they leak — I cannot be very active during the day.”

COVID-19 has posed so many additional challenges for Domingas. She can no longer go to school. But even before the pandemic, she’d often have to stay home when she had her period.

With Plan’s intervention, we’ve provided Domginas and thousands of other girls in Mozambique with washable, reusable “PeriodPanties.” Each girl received two pairs, which last more than two years each.

“Since I have received the reusable underwear, I can continue to be productive during menstruation,” Domingas says. “I can go to school again once they are open and I will not fall behind.”

Plan International USA is governed by a board of directors led by a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary and treasurer. The board of directors oversees the Executive Team responsible for running day-to-day business operations, including international programming, marketing, finance and human resources.

Our employees at Plan are a driving force behind helping millions of girls across the world realize and exercise their rights. That’s why we make sure every person on our staff is uniquely well-equipped to do their best work for the girls, children, young women and families with whom we work. When you join our team, our movement for gender equality becomes so much stronger.

Read the latest news and information about Plan’s partnerships, events and programs helping to change girls’ and children’s lives.