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Stop forced marriages through education in Guinea
project summaryAt the KIRA tailor's atelier in Guinea, 15 young girls are currently doing an apprenticeship in tailoring. We would like to open a second atelier to make it possible for 10 more young people to get an apprenticeship. This we can only do with your support!
Background
"At 17, I ran away from home because I didn't want to marry a 58-year-old man." - Bintou, 20 years old, apprentice at KIRA.
This is a fate shared by many young girls in Guinea. The country is one of the poorest in the world. Over 60% of the population can neither read nor write. Many families in Guinea cannot afford to send their children to school. The daughters of the families are particularly disadvantaged. Without a basic education, they have no prospect of employment. To improve the family's economic situation, the girls are married off as early as possible - and often against their will. We have already been able to prevent the forced marriage of two of our students. But in the end, it is education that gives the girls the chance for a self-determined life.
Read moreThis is a fate shared by many young girls in Guinea. The country is one of the poorest in the world. Over 60% of the population can neither read nor write. Many families in Guinea cannot afford to send their children to school. The daughters of the families are particularly disadvantaged. Without a basic education, they have no prospect of employment. To improve the family's economic situation, the girls are married off as early as possible - and often against their will. We have already been able to prevent the forced marriage of two of our students. But in the end, it is education that gives the girls the chance for a self-determined life.
Idea
KIRA currently runs a training centre with 15 apprentices in Conakry, the capital of Guinea. The girls complete a three-year tailoring apprenticeship. They also learn to read, write and do simple bookkeeping. Our goal is for them to be able to earn their own living after their training.
The project has been very well received by the population and the waiting list for our workshop is long. That is why we are opening a second studio in 2023 to enable (for the time being) ten more young people to receive training. We need your support for this!
Read moreThe project has been very well received by the population and the waiting list for our workshop is long. That is why we are opening a second studio in 2023 to enable (for the time being) ten more young people to receive training. We need your support for this!
Implementation
What does KIRA achieve in Guinea? Through our activities we protect young people, especially girls, from exploitation, abuse and forced marriage. We also offer these young people the opportunity for an independent and self-determined life. The girls gain self-confidence and are given a perspective for the future. Thanks to their education, the girls are perceived as profitable members of society. An educated and employed woman can provide for her family and in turn send her children to school later.
In March 2023, the new studio is to be opened with ten learners, a master teacher and a teacher for literacy courses. For this we urgently need the following:
-10x Sewing machines (CHF 2.000.-). Each learner needs her own sewing machine to complete her tasks in a timely and efficient manner.
-Contribution to the salary costs of the teacher for the tailoring training (CHF 3,000.-): KIRA pays its employees in Guinea fair wages and thus guarantees quality work.
-Contribution to the salary costs of teachers for literacy courses (CHF 3,000): We work with qualified teachers who are specially trained to teach young people these important skills.
-Contribution to rental costs for the new sewing studio (CHF 1.200.-)
-Contribution to material costs (CHF 3.000.-): We need fabrics and accessories every year to run the training centre. We work mainly with African fabrics and our suppliers come exclusively from Guinea. This way we make a big contribution to securing the livelihood of small traders in Conakry.
-1x bench and 10x chairs (CHF 600.-) made in Guinea with local wood
-1x Tailor's table (CHF 380.-) made in Guinea with local wood
-2 ceiling fans (CHF 670.-). The average temperature in summer is 40 degrees in Conakry. The students' ability to concentrate is affected by this heat. That is why two fans are needed.
-4x irons (CHF 160.-)
In total we need CHF 14'010.- to cover the costs for the opening of the studio including the first year of training. For ecological reasons, we source all the equipment and materials locally.
Read moreIn March 2023, the new studio is to be opened with ten learners, a master teacher and a teacher for literacy courses. For this we urgently need the following:
-10x Sewing machines (CHF 2.000.-). Each learner needs her own sewing machine to complete her tasks in a timely and efficient manner.
-Contribution to the salary costs of the teacher for the tailoring training (CHF 3,000.-): KIRA pays its employees in Guinea fair wages and thus guarantees quality work.
-Contribution to the salary costs of teachers for literacy courses (CHF 3,000): We work with qualified teachers who are specially trained to teach young people these important skills.
-Contribution to rental costs for the new sewing studio (CHF 1.200.-)
-Contribution to material costs (CHF 3.000.-): We need fabrics and accessories every year to run the training centre. We work mainly with African fabrics and our suppliers come exclusively from Guinea. This way we make a big contribution to securing the livelihood of small traders in Conakry.
-1x bench and 10x chairs (CHF 600.-) made in Guinea with local wood
-1x Tailor's table (CHF 380.-) made in Guinea with local wood
-2 ceiling fans (CHF 670.-). The average temperature in summer is 40 degrees in Conakry. The students' ability to concentrate is affected by this heat. That is why two fans are needed.
-4x irons (CHF 160.-)
In total we need CHF 14'010.- to cover the costs for the opening of the studio including the first year of training. For ecological reasons, we source all the equipment and materials locally.
Initiators
KIRA is a non-profit association based in Hüntwangen, ZH. Saran Keita, founder and president of the association, is herself from Guinea. She has lived in Switzerland for 24 years. Since 2014, Saran Keita has been involved in various educational projects and youth development programmes in her home country. She is convinced that education is the best way to give children and adolescents in Guinea a better future. That is why she founded the KIRA association in 2018. In the meantime, the association has grown to 15 diverse members who work together for independence through education in Guinea.
Learn more about KIRA on our website www.vereinkira.ch
Read moreLearn more about KIRA on our website www.vereinkira.ch
| Niclas Merz | 10,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 100,00 CHF |
| Sibylle Lambey | 50,00 CHF |
| Philip Merz | 80,00 CHF |
| Josephina Haarman | 100,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 50,00 CHF |
| Françoise Strassburg Peluso | 50,00 CHF |
| Madeleine Salzmann | 50,00 CHF |
| Michel Vinzens | 200,00 CHF |
| Brigitte Di Gallo | 50,00 CHF |
| Michael Stadler | 100,00 CHF |
| Daniel Lutz | 50,00 CHF |
| Dorothea Maier | 300,00 CHF |
| Biliana Zlateva | 50,00 CHF |
| Martina Sarrats | 50,00 CHF |
| Ramun Vital | 100,00 CHF |
| Brigitte Blatter | 50,00 CHF |
| Fotini Bellucci | 90,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 170,00 CHF |
| Vermittelt durch Swisscom | 155,00 CHF |
| Rolf Hess | 505,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 190,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 50,00 CHF |
| Bruno Koch | 330,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 225,00 CHF |
| Vermittelt durch Swisscom | 500,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 100,00 CHF |
| Willem Nijmolen | 50,00 CHF |
| Maurizia Damonti | 210,00 CHF |
| Cäcilia Neidhart | 200,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 770,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 195,00 CHF |
| Nadine Cornut | 260,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 780,00 CHF |
| Graziella Fisch | 160,00 CHF |
| Werner Thommen | 100,00 CHF |
| Daniel Arnold | 150,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 180,00 CHF |
| Vermittelt durch Swisscom | 250,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 380,00 CHF |
| Marko Saul | 50,00 CHF |
| Tobias Clemens | 500,00 CHF |
| Fritz Bärlocher | 333,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 50,00 CHF |
| Christian Trüb | 75,00 CHF |
| Stella & Evonne Merz | 50,00 CHF |
| Ruedi Schmid | 200,00 CHF |
| Stephanie Csendes | 100,00 CHF |
| Helga Dancke | 100,00 CHF |
| Sandra Bornwasser | 200,00 CHF |
| Lydie Stieger | 200,00 CHF |
| Julia Eisenring | 200,00 CHF |
| Christa Eisenring | 100,00 CHF |
| Kiwanis Club Zollikon | 1'000,00 CHF |
| Marcus Cramer | 1'000,00 CHF |
| Ranil Jayanetti | 200,00 CHF |
| Michael Stadler | 13,00 CHF |
| Lukas Kaukomaa | 10,00 CHF |
| Vreni Tanner | 50,00 CHF |
| Ivan Mitrovic | 10,00 CHF |
| Niclas Merz | 30,00 CHF |
| Regine und Jay Eisenegger | 250,00 CHF |
| Fotini Bellucci | 200,00 CHF |
| Kathy Fawer | 500,00 CHF |
| Katharina Fleischmann | 150,00 CHF |
| Marcus Cramer | 1'000,00 CHF |
Currently, there are still no project partners if you are interested, please contact us via info@there-for-you.com.
Status of the project
We will send the donation receipt (for Switzerland) in January of the following year.
Impact analysis by there for you specialists
Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world. If a family lacks any financial means, daughters are often not only taken out of school, but also married off at an early age. Girls who are married off young, however, are particularly at risk of becoming victims of domestic violence and being exposed to social isolation. On the other hand, if forced marriages are prevented and young women can enjoy an education or formation, they become more automonous and their value in society rises. In the long run, society as a whole will benefit from this.
Primary Partners
