Photo essay

In a journey of girl empowerment

The voice of girls from unheard to impactful

Ghada Nadi
The “Dawwie” journey is led in a national initiative by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) joined by a coalition of national partners, donors and technically supported by UNICEF.
UNICEF/Egypt 2019/Rehab El Dalil
28 January 2020

Meaning a “loud voice with an impact”, “Dawwie” is a national initiative designed to engage adolescent girls and boys in activities that help them reach their full potential, while fostering engagement from their families and  communities, thus changing the way society sees and talks about girls.

The “Dawwie” journey is led in a national initiative by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) joined by a coalition of national partners, donors and technically supported by UNICEF.
UNICEF/Egypt 2019/Rehab El Dalil
the Dawwie slogan. The initiative has been introduced in over 20 governorates. In Fayoum, a high interest and commitment at the governorate’s leadership level has facilitated the adoption of the full package of Dawwie activities in the Civic Education Center of Shakshook village, a vulnerable community in the governorate, and beyond. The photos below show boys, girls and communities engaging in several Dawwie activities each complementing the other in the journey of empowerment.
The “Dawwie” journey is led in a national initiative by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) joined by a coalition of national partners, donors and technically supported by UNICEF.
UNICEF/Egypt 2019/Rehab El Dalil
In Dawwie, girls as well as boys learn the skill of expressing themselves and telling their personal story in the safe and inclusive spaces created in the ‘Dawwie circles’. The members of the circles meet regularly in a community-accepted place to exchange views and get peer support on issues related to health, marriage, bodily integrity, well-being, skills and aspirations, all guided by the Dawwie Circle Storytelling Kit.
The “Dawwie” journey is led in a national initiative by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) joined by a coalition of national partners, donors and technically supported by UNICEF.
UNICEF/Egypt 2019/Rehab El Dalil
The digital world poses both a risk and opportunity for today’s children and adolescents. With the Dawwie Digital Literacy Toolkit, boys and girls learn the skills needed for them to be able to navigate effectively and safely in the cyber world. “We made an online group on Facebook,” says 13-year-old Tasneem, “One day I posted on the group that I was feeling very upset about being harassed on the street. Everyone’s advice and supportive comments made me feel much better.”
The “Dawwie” journey is led in a national initiative by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) joined by a coalition of national partners, donors and technically supported by UNICEF
UNICEF/Egypt 2019/Rehab El Dalil
In an interactive theatrical performance about the social and behavioural issue of child marriage, the children participating in Dawwie activities in Shakshook village gracefully engaged their audience and stimulated thoughts on issue. This kind of participatory theatre is the last station of the Dawwie package of activities, expanding further the choices available to girls and boys to strengthen their voices and address social structures that affect them.
The “Dawwie” journey is led in a national initiative by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) joined by a coalition of national partners, donors and technically supported by UNICEF.
UNICEF/Egypt 2019/Rehab El Dalil
Building on self-expression skills obtained in the Dawwie storytelling circles, the intergenerational dialogue activity helps promote understanding between the elders and youth in the community and get them to acknowledge each other’s views and feelings. The ladies in the photo in Shakshook village had a rich dialogue about the right age for marriage.
The “Dawwie” journey is led in a national initiative by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) joined by a coalition of national partners, donors and technically supported by UNICEF.
UNICEF/Egypt 2019/Rehab El Dalil
Participating in sports is not something to be taken for granted in conservative societies like that of Shakshook village. Dawwie promotes sport activities helps break gender stereotypes, allowing girls to practice their leadership skills just like the boys.

Related topics

Girls empowerment
Child rights
Egypt

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