The Goal Programme aims to empower and equip adolescent girls with the confidence, knowledge and skills they need to be integral economic leaders in their families, communities and societies.
The programme was first launched in 2006 in Delhi, India, and reached 70 girls.By 2015, it has reached 217,000 girls between the ages 12 and 18 in 25 countries were Standard Chartered operates.
Goal was officially launched in The Gambia on 15 April 2016 at St Joseph’s Senior Secondary with 100 girls from St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School at the school premises.A further 110 girls were trained from Bakau Upper Basic School in May 2016.
In addition to the sporting games, classroom session were also held on the four Goal modules focusing on health and hygiene, ‘Be Healthy’; communication skills, ‘Be Yourself’; confidence and life skills, ‘Be Empowered’; and financial literacy, ‘Be Money Savvy’.
CEO Albert Saltson encouraged the girls to take the Goal Programme seriously as it creates leadership pipelines.
According to him, in some countries, girls who complete the programme become Goal graduates; those graduates who show real leadership potential become Goal Champions and help educate the next group of Goal participants.
“As the Executive Goal Sponsor Gambia, I want to see some of you girls moving on to become Goal Champions,” he said.
CEO Saltson commended the Goal coaches for training a total of 652 girls within two months of launching the programme in The Gambia.
Lamin Jaiteh, principal of Gambia High School, commended Standard Chartered for choosing his school to partake in the Goal Programme.
“We recognise that gender equality is critical to economic growth and sustainability.I am therefore pleased that 442 girls from my school are trained and empowered to contribute positively in their societies,” he said.
Standard Chartered’s decision to implement the Goal project is to complement the Gambia Government’s commitment on girl education and empowerment in The Gambia through sport-based leadership skills building and financial literacy activities.
