BETTER TOGETHER
A NIKE FOUNDATION INITIATIVE
PRODUCT DESIGN / MARKET RESEARCH / USER TESTING / PRODUCTION / DISTRIBUTION
Connections has been created for and by girls and is a critical component of the Yegna Platform. With all the necessary items to create Yegna Clubs, Connections gives girls a fun way to build and deepen their own friendships, just as the five Yegna girls group together to start their own band. The idea is that groups of girls around Ethiopia will be able to learn about friendship, confidence, money, health, and safety just as Melat, Lemlem, Sara, Emuye and Mimi do. This surrounds the theme of Connections, which shows how girls working and collaborating together are Better Together. By working together through weekly activities the group can overcome personal obstacles as well as group and community issues.
Yegna Connections provides a space for girls to be Better Together.
OBJECTIVE
Provide the foundation for lifelong self-empowerment skills for young girls within their communities and providing them with the opportunities to improve their confidence and encourage them to reach their full potential.
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By teaching children healthy life skill practices in a fun manner
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By giving children the opportunity to learn about each other and what they can accomplish together
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By improving social supports for children
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By enhancing community partnerships around the issue of child health and gender equality
WHAT'S INCLUDED
CARRYING BAG
Used for storing and transporting the contents of Yegna Connections when not in use. Designed to unzip and open flat as a surface for the activities and games.
GUIDANCE BOOK
Guides the group through the weekly activities and games, showing them how to make the most of the materials included. The facilitator is the holder of this book but should include the girls when using it and encourage to them to read out loud and participate.
WORKBOOKS
Contains all of the information for the weekly sessions and will serve as a safe space for the girls to record their activities as well as any other thoughts or ideas they may have. This is hers to keep and take home.
CARDS
Playing cards used for theme, story, and energizer activities. With various difficulties and multiple ways to use them, they will continue to grow as the girls do.
TOKENS
3 sets of 25 tokens, each with their own color, are used during the games and activities. The important thing to remember is that anything readily available can also be a token, from bottle caps to rocks. Each kit also has 3 dice.
BEADS & CHAINS
The bead exchange is a fun way to track progress on their work towards being Better Together. girls need to keep up with their "GO" activities in order to earn beads. It serves as a Yegna identifier for other groups as well and shows how far each in their journey.
RESULTS
After the production of the first 50 kits, the PeaceCorps became our first partner to test and distribute the kits. These were tested in various communities around Ethiopia with the goal to refine and partner with more non-profits in Phase II. The initial reception was very exciting and we look forward to making Yegna Connections a part of girls lives going forward.