Soar Stories

Project Soar is a grassroots girls' rights movement. We know that real change takes time, so we establish meaningful relationships in the communities we work in, and provide a holistic program that helps girls realize their core values. This allows girls to implement new skills in their daily lives and troubleshoot with the help of their peers. As a Soar Girl progresses through each module, she undergoes a transformative process whereby she further develops her self-confidence; speaks up; embraces her adolescent body; fights for her rights; and sets future goals. Here are a few stories of how Soar is impacting teen girls.

Soukaina

Soukaina ' s family was initially reluctant to let her join Project Soar. "Before attending the Soar workshops, I couldn 't tell people how I felt, especially my father. "

After participating in Soar, Soukaina's favorite part of the program was the workshops in the Voice module, because it helped her find her voice and use it.

"Now I can talk to my father and family about everything -- like my emotions or my period.

Seeing the changes that Soukaina underwent while in the Soar program, her family realized that becoming a Soar Girl was a great way for their daughter to develop her personality and learn about her value, body and rights.

"Project Soar helps girls in every aspect of life, but especially with communicating, standing up for ourselves and exchanging ideas with friends, teachers and people from other cultures. "

Since becoming a Soar Girl and completing the program this year, Soukaina gives back to other girls by interning at Soar HQ, registering new Soar Girls and leading workshops.

Soukaina also has BIG plans for the future. She is a dedicated student and envisions pursuing a creative career by becoming a graphic designer. She's committed to improving her English, and wants to learn Italian and Korean, too! With her determination, we are certain Soukaina will achieve her dreams.

Fatima

Fatima dropped out of school two years ago at age 16. "I thought that my family and society had the right to decide my future because I am a girl. "

When Fatima heard about the Soar program at her community center in NW Syria, she asked her parents' permission to attend. They supported her since she spent most of her time at home. After attending the workshops in the first module, Voice, Fatima was encouraged.

"I committed myself to participating. I understood the importance of completing my education and continuing my studies during this program, and that it' s my right to have access to education and study with my friends... ...I thought about returning to school, and I convinced my family that education is important to me and that I can succeed in school.

Now, Fatima registered in school again and is confident that she will be able to excel and handle any challenges.

"I thank this program and the facilitators for motivating me to handle the obstacles I was facing. I will be able to achieve my goals,. This program gave us confidence, a group of friends, and changed our perspective on life for the better.

Buses for Biougra

Soar Girls and Facilitators Leila and Hasna saw a lack of safe school transportation in their semi-rural community of Biougra in southern Morocco. So after our training, they hosted their first Soar Dialogue in February 2021 to address this common barrier to education for girls.

Starting in fall 2021, the town of Biougra now offers transportation to the rural students in their community via the provision of two buses.

In this initial powerful Soar Dialogue in Biougra, 50 members of the community ranging from parents to local government officials and even the school director came together to hear how this challenge affects the girls in their community. This dialogue was so motivating that the attendees all came together and made an action plan for how to solve this issue. After months of persistent outreach to local authorities and working through bureaucratic procedures in order to secure and fund a reliable school bus for daily student transport, We are pleased to report that their efforts were successful.

These two buses, which hold roughly 70 students total at one time, will continue to help improve teen girls' access school in a safe and reliable fashion for years to come. Soar Girls in Biougra feel very proud of their success, as they know that this bus will prevent other girls from dropping out of school and therefore help prevent potential early or forced marriage.