2023 Annual Review
THANK YOU. What an extraordinary journey 2023 has been for all of us at SHE. Reflecting on the past year fills me with immense gratitude and pride. As we turn the pages of our organization's story, each chapter reveals new triumphs, challenges, and most importantly, the unwavering spirit of our SHE community. With every passing year, our commitment to empowering girls and women around the world grows stronger. Our partnerships with the 21 communities we serve in Togo have flourished, paving the way for impactful collaborations and shared successes. Through the launch of innovative initiatives, like our Mobile Learning Lab, we've continued to adapt and evolve to better serve our students and employees, ensuring that our programs are not just effective but also inclusive. One of the most gratifying aspects of our work is witnessing the remarkable achievements of our students and seamstresses. Their dedication, ambition, and resilience inspire us all and reaffirm our belief in the limitless potential of every individual. As always, none of this would be possible without the unwavering support of you - our incredible supporters and partners. Your belief in our mission, your generosity, and your commitment to empowering girls and women are the driving forces behind everything we do. It's because of you that we're able to continue making a tangible difference in the lives of so many, and for that, we are deeply grateful. With tremendous gratitude,
Payton McGriff
Payton McGriff, Founder & CEO
CONTENTS Our Purpose and Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.
2023 Impact Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.
Where We Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.
Girls' Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7.
Women's Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17.
Sustainability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23.
Our Togo Leadership Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27.
Financials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29.
Donor & Partner Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30.
1.
Our puprose SHE believes in a world where all girls and women can do more than survive, they can flourish. Why? Because when women rise, we all rise. When communities invest in their girls and women, they become safer, more prosperous, and more stable. At SHE, our experience serving geographically excluded communities has led us to focus our work on the three main barriers that prevent girls and women from flourishing long-term: 1. limited access to education for girls, 2. lack of employment opportunities for women, and 3. climate change.
Our holistic approach
01. GIRLS' EDUCATION
02. WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT
03. SUSTAINABILITY
We help girls break down
We create dignified jobs
We make innovative
barriers to education with
for seamstresses from
products, like our SHE
new school uniforms, full-
low-income and low-
school uniforms that grow
tuition scholarships, school
education backgrounds.
supplies, menstrual kits,
and reusable menstrual
100% of our products are
and year-round support
pads from 100% recycled
made by women in the
fabric, that are better for
communities we serve.
girls, women, and the
from our local team of women.
planet.
2.
2023 impact at a glance
With the unwavering support of our global community and dedication of our Togolese team, 2023 was another impactful year.
3.
1,500 girls in school
33 women employed IN TOGO
With new school uniforms, fulltuition scholarships, school supply kits, reusable menstrual products, and year-round support
With long-term contracts, salaries above living wage, free childcare, paid time for adult education, and tailored benefits
99.1% student pass rate
5 new full-time seamstresses
1,487 of our 1,500 students sponsored in 2023 passed their classes and national exams
We hired 5 new full-time seamstresses in our Kpové village cooperative and in our Notsé office
21 rural communities served
192 hours of paid adult education
1,300 of our 1,500 students live in the 20 rural partner villages surrounding our Notsé, Togo headquarters
Through our paid-to-learn employment program, our seamstresses are learning to read, write, and manage their household finances during their paid workweek
4.
where we work
rural Togo, Africa Over the years, we've increased our focus on rural, economically excluded communities. Today, we partner with 21 villages and serve students in a total of 42 partner schools in the southern region of Togo. The rural communities we serve face much larger barriers to accessible education than urban communities. As a result of this, the average education level for girls in rural Togo is just 2 - 3 years, with only 33% of girls advancing to junior high school. Poverty remains the largest barrier to education for students in Togo, with roughly 69% of the rural population living below the International Income Poverty Level ($1.90 per day).
our rural partner communities We partner with 21 rural villages in the southern region of Togo who share our belief in the power of girls and women to create lasting change in their communities. We especially thank each of our partner communities for their commitment and work to uplift girls across Togo.
1. Notsé
6. Bitoka
11. Mangotigomé
16. Havouko
2. Dzidzolé
7. Avovo-kpopé
12. Kpové
17. Kpélé
3. Rodokpé
8. Avassikpé Gan
13. Djemeni
18. Atsidomé
4. Agbatitoe
9. Avassikpé Vi
14. Djekloe-Atitsohoe A 19. Todomé-Atimabizo
5. Akoesso-Kopé
10. Tsavé
15. Djidomé
20. Atchavé 21. Attitsohoe
5.
girls' education 1,300 of the 1,500 students we serve live in our rural partner communities. Below is a map of the partner villages we continue to serve.
Bitoka Rodokpé Atsidomé
Avovo
Akoesso Kopé
Avassikpé Gan Agbatitoe Avassikpé Vi Dzidzolé
Notsé
Todomé
Mangotigomé
Djemení Tsavé Attitsohoe Djékloe
Djidomé Kpelé
Kpové
Atchavé Havouko
Our education sponsorships Our education sponsorships are how we address the financial barriers that prevent girls from attending school. For every $50 sponsorship a donors provide, a girl in our Togo program receives:
7.
New SHE school uniform that grows
Full-tuition scholarship and exam fees
1 year's worth of school supplies
Year-round tutoring from our local team
100% recycled, waterproof backpack
Reusable menstrual health kit
2023 s h e student results
1,500
99.1%
144 hours
Girls in rural Togo received full education sponsorship from S H E in 2022
Overall student Pass Rate. 1,487 out of 1,500 girls passed their grade level and continued on to the next grade level
Each of our tutors provided 144 hours of tutoring for our students over the course of the year (4 hours per week)
taking a closer look 265 of our students were enrolled in grade levels that require national exams. 257 of 265 SHE students passed the national exam at their respective grade level. National pass rate for girls PRIMAIRE (end of grade 6)
97.98%
BEPC (end of junior high school)
94.68%
BAC 1 (end of tenth grade)
52.39%
BAC 2 (end of high school grade)
73.03%
S H E student pass rate
% difference at S H E
100%
+ 2.02%
95.83%
+1.15%
73.68%
+ 21.29%
88.23%
+ 15.2%
(205 out of 205)
(23 out of 24)
(14 out of 19)
(15 out of 17)
The BAC 1 and BAC 2 exams are notoriously difficult in Togo. In 2022, we hired 6 part-time teachers to help students focus on subject matter proficiency and prepare for their national exams throughout the school year. SHE student exam pass rates have steadily increased since.
8.
why we focus our work in rural villages Higher barriers to education for girls With roughly 69% of the rural population living below $1.90 per day, poverty remains the largest barrier to education for girls in rural Togo. Serving geographically excluded communities requires a more holistic approach to sustainable development and awareness of the larger community barriers threatening our students' long-term outcomes. Over the next years, we will continue seeking solutions and partners to address the following barriers we've uncovered over the last three years.
Only 6 of the 20 rural villages we serve have Junior High schools (0 have High Schools), so accessible secondary school opportunities are extremely limited for students. None of our partner schools have running water or bathrooms. Girls in some of our partner villages have to walk more than 2 hours per day to retrieve water, so schools have had to delay the morning start time to afford girls enough time to collect water and attend school each day. Classroom Investments: While our tuition funding has already helped our partner schools build and repair classrooms, issues like the lack of school benches, equipment, and library books remain.
Atsidomé Junior High School
Damaged water cistern at Djekloé
Attitsohoe Primary School
Toilet facility in village school
5.
When girls rise, we all rise
New classrooms built in Atsavé with support from SHE tuition payments
SHE tuition helps schools invest in critical infrastructure upgrades After 3 years of sustained partnership in our village communities, schools are exemplifying the fact that when girls rise, we all rise. In several communities, our school administrators have been able to invest in significant infrastructure upgrades with the added tuition fees paid by SHE on behalf of our students. Above, a SHE student stands proudly at her new school building upgraded with SHE tuition funds.
Atsavé school before upgrades 10.
Before | Damaged primary school classroom before SHE partnership
After | Classroom repairs funded by SHE student tuition payments
New this year | The Mobile learning lab Our small (but mighty) library, art studio, and science lab on wheels The incredible SHE community helped us realize a long-standing dream this year when you helped us purchase a vehicle to bring critical education materials to schools who can’t afford them. Now, our team is able to travel to difficult-to-access schools year-round to host community workshops, provide library books, and create fun and engaging learning experiences.
In future years, we hope to greatly expand our mobile learning programs, bring reliable resources to the hundreds of small village schools across Togo, and train local teachers with our SHE curriculum to equip students with a more well-rounded education and skillset.
our reach in 2023 4,505 workshop attendees
1,020 student/parent interviews
In addition to our student programming,
Our team conducted 1,020 interviews
our team conducted 16 community
with SHE students and parents to ensure
workshops for 4,505 participants
their needs are being met by our program 12.
My daughter has been a SHE student since 2020, and I can say that she has benefitted greatly from this program. I I speak on behalf of the parents of my community that our daughters have benefitted greatly from this program. We are proud of them. - Moussa, Mother of SHE student
Thanks to SHE, I find myself in University today studying to become a teacher so I can inspire the next generation of girls as they get their education. - Nadége 20 years old
Today, I found the life I want to live. Before I became a SHE student, my mother was doing everything she could to support my siblings and me by herself. You could say it was very difficult, and I worried for my future. Thanks to SHE, I’m receiving a quality education and it’s changed the path of my life. I am able to leave my village to attend middle school, and I will become a lawyer someday to promote truth in my country and support my family.
- Massan, 13 years old
Student Success stories Where are SHE students now? In 2023, 31 SHE graduates are enrolled in university, marking a crucial step in breaking the cycle of poverty. After 6 years of programming, 40% of SHE graduates have chosen to pursue higher education, and 60% have chosen to enter the workforce upon completing high school. In addition, SHE students have achieved a 15% increase in above-average grades, a major improvement for academic proficiency.
31
SHE Graduates are now attending University
Nadège’s journey to university At the age of 14, Nadège was one of the first students sponsored by SHE in 2017. As the first child of two teachers, Nadège has always been academically gifted. Yet, even though both her parents were teachers, they were not receiving regular income and were struggling to keep both of their girls in school. After Nadège’s mother heard of our program, she came to recommend Nadège and her sister for enrollment in our afterschool program. After hearing their story, we quickly enrolled both Nadège and her sister in our sponsorship program, and we hired Dyna as a part-time primary school tutor for our program. Fast forward to today, and Nadège is in her 2nd year of school at the University of Lomé. She is pursuing a degree in education and hopes to become a teacher to inspire and educate the next generation of girls.
15.
Nadège wona SHE GRADUATE IN 2021
16.
women's employment our paid-to-learn model At S H E, we intentionally hire women from low-income and low-education backgrounds who work as seamstresses in our sustainable factories. Our team has grown to 34 people strong (33 women and 1 man in Togo). We've carefully developed our paid-to-learn model so every employee at S H E is guaranteed: Paid time devoted to adult education
No more than 40 hour work weeks
Salaries above living wage
3-month paid maternity leave
(Our average seamstress salary is 75% higher than Togo's minimum wage)
Unlimited paid sick leave
17.
Free childcare
Reine
SHE Seamstress in Kpové I’m Reine and I am 26 years old and a mother of two girls and a 9 month old boy. Growing up, I had 9 siblings. I stopped school in grade 6 because I got seriously sick and by the time I had recovered, exams were over. I really didn’t want to bother my mum anymore with the stress of paying school fees twice for the same grade, especially after she had spent so much on my sickness. So I decided not to continue and instead learn a skill. To do that, I had to spend 4 more years at home to help my mother in the fields and in the market to save money for the sewing apprenticeship. I was finally able to start my apprenticeship in 2012 and finished in late 2015. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford a sewing machine to open my own workshop, and I didn’t want to remain a burden to my mum, so I decided to get married in 2016. I started having children and I hated being a housewife because I didn’t imagine my life that way. I started selling necklaces in the market. It didn’t work, and the only thing left for me was the farm, and I hated it too. It made me angry, sad, and everything to the extent that I started feeling pains in my heart. There was a girl in my area called Sefako, and we used to go to the farm together sometimes. It’s true, I’m much older than Sefako and the only thing I knew about her was that she sold shoes and soap in the market. But I started to notice how much she was changing over the last year, and I heard that she started working at SHE. So one good day, I met her on the road to the farm again and I shared my situation and my strong desire to work. Sefa promised to let me know when there were new recruitments coming at SHE. And after 3 or 4 months, she informed me about an upcoming recruitment. I started preparing right away, and soon enough I heard on the radio that they were accepting files. My interview went well and I performed well in my skills test, which made me feel confident in myself. When I finally got the call that I was selected to become a full-time seamstress at SHE, I was extremely happy. My husband was so happy for me too.
19.
My first achievement is dressing up well and going to work with my children. And close to that is my salary at the end of each month. I am truly enjoying my journey at SHE as it makes me feel valued, important, different, and empowered. Now I understand what women’s empowerment means. Years ago it was just a word... Every woman deserves the opportunity to work and feel important just like me right now. I hear people say that life in the city is not as smmooth as we think, but I think life in the village is twice as hard. Opportunities are very limited and the only thing left is farming where conditions are unstable. Opportunities like these are highly welcome in villages in order to give women choice; for our girls to see their mums thriving and for us to be their first role models. Bless all of our donors and every single person working day and night for this program to grow and extend to other villages, towns, and hopefully across the world so every fellow woman can feel at peace and empowered. Thank you for changing our lives, thank you for making our dreams come true, and thank you for everything. Our hearts are full.
Now I understand what women’s empowerment means. Years ago it was just a word... Every woman deserves the opportunity to work and feel important just like me.
before working at SHE...
In our two sustainable factories in rural Togo, we currently employ 20 seamstresses from lowincome and low-education backgrounds. 8 of our seamstresses work at our Kpové Cooperative, and 12 of our seamstresses work at our Notsé headquarters. Prior to employment at SHE:
75%
of seamstresses had never been to school (the literacy rate in Togo for women is 51.74%)
2
of our seamstresses had official documentation for formalized employment
0
were enrolled in national social security, retirement, or health care benefits
ABLA Seamstress at SHE since 2018 I am so grateful for all of the changes SHE has brought to our lives. I started at SHE as one of our first two full-time seamstresses. So I have watched SHE grow, and SHE has watched me grow over the years. Before I started working at SHE, I was a very shy person. I used to say that I could not even feel comfortable in the same room as others because I felt such shame and lacked confidence in myself. But today, I express myself freely and I feel proud to be in the company of others.
0
had bank accounts or personal savings accounts 21.
0
had ever received a formal paycheck for their work
11
of their children weren't enrolled in school due to lack of financial means
... After one year of employment with SHE
192
100%
paid hours of adult education completed by every SHE seamstress in 2022
of seamstresses achieved basic literacy and numeracy in French
100%
are promoted to long-term contracts and enrolled in national social security and, health care programs
I’m very proud of myself because I have learned to read and write during my time at SHE. I remember when I received my first paycheck, I had to draw a circle on it because I was never taught how to write my name. After several years of hard work, I’m reading, writing, and speaking French like other women who went to school as children. One thing that I was especially grateful for this year was our unlimited sick leave at SHE. Early in the year, I was in a motorcycle accident that broke my femur. As seamstresses, we need our legs to power our machines, so I was afraid this would end my career. During this difficult moment in my life, SHE not only paid my full salary for 4 months during surgeries and recovery, the entire team provided a ton of emotional support to help me heal. This is just one example of the ways we support each other at SHE.
100%
of our seamstresses opened personal savings accounts. 2 have purchased motorbikes, and 2 have purchased land
75%
our average seamstress salary is over 75% higher than minimum wage
100%
of employee children are enrolled in school, receive regular medical care, and have lunch money 22.
sustainability
how we define sustainability At SHE, we look at sustainability in three ways: 1. the sustainability of our impact 2. the sustainability of the environment and 3. the sustainability of our business model. 1. Impact | We've always aimed to approach challenges holistically by solving short-term and long-term needs. That's why we invest in both girls' education and new job creation for women so that when a girl completes her education, there will be a stronger local economy that can support her. 2. Environment | In all we do, we make every effort to reduce our environmental footprint. Our factories proudly repurpose 100% of fabric waste into usable products like our menstrual pads. Since 2021, we go beyond a neutral footprint and recycle fabric waste from factories in surrounding areas. To date, we've diverted more than 25,000 pounds of fabric from landfill or incineration with our factory partners. 3. Business | We recognize the inherent limitations of an entirely donation-dependent nonprofit model. In order to ensure the longevity and resilience of our work, we are building what we call our "Nonprofit Social Enterprise Model". Essentially, this means that in addition to our incredible donors and grants, we also earn our own revenue through manufacturing products for business clients. This year, our Togo seamstresses completed our first major design and manufacturing project for a business in the United States. 23.
our sustainable products Our sustainability journey started when we discovered that girls were outgrowing their required school uniforms several times throughout the year, multiplying the financial barriers already preventing girls from staying in school and creating unnecessary fabric waste. Unable to find a solution in the market, we started redesigning our school uniforms to last longer and create zero fabric waste. In 2021, we launched the newest edition of the SHE uniforms for our students. This dress expands six sizes and up to a foot in length and is designed to grow with a girl over a total of 3 years.
the SHE Uniform
The world's only school uniform that grows. What makes the S H E uniform special? expands 6 sizes in the arms, chest, and waist & creates a tailored fit at every stage of growth hidden seams at the bottom of the dress allow the dress to grow up to 12" in length!
24.
Recycled plastic backpacks In 2022, we developed a backpack for our students that utilizes 100% recycled single use plastic bags (just like those you find at the grocery store). Not only does this backpack create a sustainable alternative for new production, it creates a durable, waterproof backpack that enables our students to carry and protect their school supplies through long rainy seasons. In 2023, we collected over 500 pounds of plastic waste through community cleanup events to transform into student backpacks.
Reusable Menstrual pads In May 2023, during Menstrual Health Month, we launched a major menstrual health awareness campaign across 6 cities in Togo. In addition to the more the 15,000 menstrual pads that we have donated to students and women over the years, we are now selling SHE pads across the country to support this program. We sold more than 2,000 pads during these events and provided menstrual health education for nearly 6,000 women. Reusable pads are not only a safer option than the chemical-ridden plastic pads currently available, they offer a much more affordable alternative to disposable products. 26.
Our Togo leadership team Our work would simply not be possible without the incredible leadership and dedication of our team in Togo. This year, we made several exciting promotions on our Togo team, and we’re continuously inspired watching the women on our team grow and shine as leaders.
27.
Françoise Odoh
Fawziyat Sani
Elolo Abalou
Executive Director of SHE Togo
Global Communications & Business Dev. Director
Assisstant Director of SHE Togo
Alice Harenga
Amonon Awute Mawudina Adjessi-Videke
Education Manager
Co-Lead Seamstress
Co-Lead Seamstress
our financials We believe you deserve confidence in how your contributions are invested at SHE. We're committed to remaining transparent with our financials.
Funding sources Earned Revenue 5.4%
Donors 22.3%
$177,515 raised in 2023
Corporate Partners 9% Grants 63.3%
operating expense Breakdown Sustainability Program 20.5%
Employment Program 28.7%
2023 Operating Expenses
$162,907 Overhead 21.6% Student Program 29.3% Our overhead includes our Togo rent & utilities, our accounting & legal services, processing fees, travel, and 20% of our CEO's salary to account for her time spent fundraising and marketing the SHE program. In addition to operating expenses in 2023, SHE invested in a new vehicle in Togo for $13,800.
Our Annual Report would never be complete without honoring what makes this all possible - our incredible donors and partners. You helped us raise $177,515 to serve girls and women in Togo. You helped 1,500 girls receive the chance to go to school, employed 33 women year-round, and empowered us to continue expanding services for our 21 amazing community partners. We're so grateful.
the SHE collective and $5 Friend club The SHE Collective and $5 Friend Club are dedicated groups of changemakers who invest in SHE monthly. Thank you for taking every step of this journey with us. Albert Barnes
Jess Nelson
Michael Jackson
Allison Mattson
Jordan Chambers
Michael McCollough
Ali Marshall
Juan & Kelly Alvarez
Molly Leadbetter
Ann Wells
Julie Stevens
Naturally Eco-Chic Salon
Ashley Porter
Kenton & Nikki Lee
Niels & Erin Damman
Bob & Gail Urso
Leah Cumberbatch
Nina Steffens
Caitlin Lanterman
Lesli Pennock
Pam Derose
Catherine Yenne
Lexy Wilson
Porsha Martinez
Chloie Dale
Linda Wise Miller
Ron & Ellie Hampton
Christy Raymond
Mara Litushko
Sara Mahuron
Dennis Sherman
Marc Chopin
Shawn Weingartner
Dr. Sarah Nelson
Mark & Jeanette Priddy
Stacey & Tyler Targee
Greg Luhn
MaryAnn Smith
Stephanie Austad
Hanaa Al Barwani
Matt Walo
Theron McGriff Whitney Schroeder
our partners Reid Family Foundation
Boise Sunrise Rotary Club
30.
Thank you.
www.StyleHerEmpowered.org
28.