Batonga Foundation

The Batonga Foundation envisions a safer, healthier, and more equitable world in which all women and girls can thrive. In 2022, the Batonga Foundation continued its work to empower the incredible young women and adolescent girl leaders of central benin, and began the expansion of its reach beyond central benin to the northern province of atacora as well as the country of senegal. Some of the accomplishments and highlights from the year include:1. Expansion within benin and to senegal: Batonga expanded its outreach to 38 new communities in northern benin, making it a total of 53 communities served across benin. In this expansion, Batonga employed its data-driven methodology, identifying adolescent girls and young women poised to benefit most. In atacora, Batonga established a collaboration with havre de paix, a local ngo striving for the betterment of vulnerable populations. This partnership is focused on tailoring Batonga's model to address the unique needs of girls and women in these new communities.2. Strengthening teams and programs: this year, Batonga welcomed new additions to its team, including nearly 100 mentors and business coaches across new communities, as well as key managerial hires in both benin and senegal. The adolescent girls leadership program underwent a curriculum revision, and while this development was in progress, past opportunities and challenges lessons were revisited. Collaborations with international organizations amplified Batonga's advocacy efforts. The young women's business circles program celebrated the end of its pilot phase, with young women forming symbiotic business relationships, fostering community supply chains. Further, Batonga's research initiatives highlighted the imperative of creating secure environments for girls and the importance of protective measures against violations of their rights.3. Harnessing digital and radio initiatives: marking the 10th anniversary of the international day of the girl, Batonga hosted a series of events celebrating the advancements for girls while also underscoring the existing challenges. Embracing the digital age, Batonga began the digitization of its training sessions and introduced digital savings, propelled by the rising incomes of young women participants. The feminist movement, nos voix comptent, also made significant strides, providing a platform for the voices of francophone african women. Batonga's commitment to broad outreach and education was reflected in its collaboration with two new radio stations in atacora, benin, enhancing its existing radio programs which not only disseminate vital information but also bolster soft skills and have tangible community impacts. 4. Engaging men and boys: finally, recognizing the role of men in gender equality, Batonga inaugurated its men and boys engagement initiative in 2022, integrating them as champions for the rights of women and girls.