You are reading the second profile in D-Prize’s feature series on women winners of the global competition!

We’re celebrating women-led organizations that have positively impacted the lives of millions of people living in low-income communities. Our series profiles women founders who have increased access to critical products and services - including solar energy, clean cookstoves, quality farm inputs, and a novel sex-ed program for teenage girls.

 

4Her2Her

EMPOWERING 1000 GIRLS WITH A UNIQUE SEX EDUCATION PROGRAM

Photo: 4Her2Her

Four girls growing up in Malawi experienced peer pressure to enter into risky, sexual relationships with older men. Fortunately, Phindu Banda, Angella Bwilani, Diana Gulitsa and Mirriam Sibale had access to positive role models and sex-ed resources. They avoided this future, but they watched many other girls fall into this trap. Now they have launched a new organization, 4Her2Her, to provide an evidence-based sex-ed program and help young girls throughout Malawi. 

Peer pressure to enter into sexual relationships with older men is very common in Malawi. Often referred to as Sugar Daddies or Blessers, older men offer young girls money and gifts in exchange for sex. Girls in these relationships are more at risk for unwanted pregnancy and STDs. Unwanted pregnancies often lead to girls dropping out of school, forced marriages, and poverty. This is a big, nationwide problem. Today, Malawi has one of the highest school drop-out rates in Southern Africa and a high prevalence of HIV/ AIDS in young women.

The 4Her2Her Team

4Her2Her’s program works like this: 

  • Each Sugar Daddy Awareness class takes place in a school classroom. It is given to teenage girls in Grade 8 and usually lasts one hour. 

  • It begins with a short discussion led by a female facilitator on the dangers of dating older men. 

  • There is a screening of an educational film (originally produced by UNICEF).

  • This is followed by in-class activities and a short lecture. 

The one-hour program has been proven to reduce unwanted pregnancies and STDS. So far, 4Her2Her has given this course to over 1193 girls across 6 schools in Lilongwe, Malawi. D-Prize was fortunate to support their work in 2023, offering a $16K startup grant to launch their social enterprise. 

In the next five years, 4Her2Her aims to become a national organization in Malawi, reaching over 50,000 girls with sex education. Despite its importance, sex education is largely ignored in most school curricula. By discussing this taboo topic openly, 4Her2Her prevents young girls from entering into cross-general relationships, safeguarding their future against unwanted pregnancies, STDs and poverty. At D-Prize, we believe in investing in women-led organizations like 4Her2Her who are breaking the silence and positively impacting the lives of girls in low-income countries.

Learn why D-Prize seeds first-time entrepreneurs creating long-lasting change against poverty here. Do you want to launch a high-impact organization reducing poverty? Join the upcoming competition here.


 

Are you next? D-Prize awards startup capital to social entrepreneurs who apply to our Global Competition.

 

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