Impact Story - Part I

 

Did you know that Girls Gotta Run uses a set of impact goals as a guide for developing and evaluating our programs? These goals are at the heart of all that we do to empower girls through running, education, and life skills.

GGRF’s first two impact goals have been anchors since our founding:

  • Increase the number of girls who have completed higher levels of secondary school, and

  • Decrease the number of girls who marry or give birth before the age of 18.

GGRF is proud to report that we have been successful in meeting these goals. Our comprehensive investment in girls has resulted in:

  • 98% of our program participants remained unmarried as of age 18

  • 96% of our program participants have graduated from secondary school, or are on track to do so. 

Beyond the numbers, our mission is to invest in girls who empower themselves and their communities. We strive to support girls where they are in their lives, homes, and families; to help them set their own goals and achieve them. 

This is directly related to another impact goal that is harder to quantify but equally important:

  • Increase the number of girls with access to information, supportive social networks, increased self-confidence, and influence over their own life choices. 

This is the true motivator. Our running teams serve as safe social spaces and a source of friendships. Our Life Skills classes provide vital information about health, leadership, and broader issues like the environment. 

We hope you find this final impact number as inspiring as we do:

  • 100% of GGRF participants surveyed said they are more likely to ask questions in school since joining our program and becoming an athlete.*

We will have more to share on our impact goals - watch this space!


* Dr. Kathleen Ralls research, "In Search of Voice Empowerment in Female Athletes in Ethiopia," 2020.

Arbora Johnson