TO THE JOURNEY

CONNECTING
The activities in the Being Economically Empowered module contribute to several steps of the girls’
journey to empowerment. First, girls recognize gender inequality in the way labour is distributed
in their own homes and communities (3) and that the work they do already, even if it is unpaid, is
valuable and should not be only girls’ and women’s responsibility (2). They assert that they have
as many rights (5) and abilities as boys to pursue economic independence. They learn financial
tools and make plans (6) to reach a short-term savings goal. In determining a future for themselves,
they identify others who can support them (7), including allies and role models in their families
and community. They recognize that they are stronger as a group (4) and commit to working to
change the structures that threaten to keep them in a cycle of poverty (8). Finally, they celebrate their
progress (10)!

The Journey to Change

4. 8.
We work
We are to change
1. one the
structures
that
I am I We have affect us
rights!

We invite
3.. 5. others to
join us
I recognise
in this
gender We journey
2. inequality identify
and analyse 6. others 9.
my attitudes who can
I am and 10.
support us
valuable behaviours We make
plans We
7.
celebrate!

1. Plan International’s State of Word Girls Report, 2009

plan-international.org BEING ECONOMICALLY EMPOWERED 11

GLOSSARY
Assets  seful or valuable things, persons or qualities that can support someone in
U
reaching their goal.

Economic inequality The unequal distribution of income and opportunity between different groups in
society.

Economic empowerment The ability to succeed and advance economically and the power to make
economic decisions and act on the

Productive labour Formal paid work in the public sphere.

Reproductive labour Day-to-day work that needs to be done in the household in order to sustain its
members, and includes child rearing, cleaning and cooking as well as informal
economic activities – shopping, selling goods at market, tending crops or
gardens for household consumption, etc.

Risky situations  nsafe or uncertain conditions girls face where actions may be taken willingly
U
or unwillingly, consciously or unconsciously, individually or collectively and may
ead to undesirable consequences.

Role model A person whose experiences, skills, attitudes and actions result in inspiration to
another.

Social support network A form of social capital that acts as both a trampoline to help individuals move
ahead in life and a buffer to ensure difficulties and crises don’t stop a girl in her
tracks.

12 CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE plan-international.org

 ON FACILITATION
GENERAL NOTES
On contextualization. Always contextualize for
the community you’re working in and the girls
you’re working with. We suggest many different
examples in the activities, but also be sure
to read through the activity first and adjust to
ensure the activity and examples are applicable
to your girls’ club, based on where girls are at
in their ability to succeed economically and the
power to make economic decisions. Notably,
you can begin by gaining a clear understanding
of the economic right that girls are guaranteed
by their country and whether there are any laws
discriminating against women and girls by visiting
this website: http://wbl.worldbank.org/
On safety: In the context of adolescent girls,
dealing with money can come with some risks.
Be sure to make the Champions of Change
clubs a safe space for girls to share concerns or
questions regarding their safety and always refer
to the Plan International child protection strategy
if anything comes out that is beyond your control.
Some things to keep reminding girls throughout
the module:
• T
 o keep their money in a safe place. The
money you save is yours and yours alone.
Hide it in a safe place and only share its
location with those that you trust. If possible,
open a bank account and keep your savings
there!
• T
 o never accept money from unsafe
sources. If anyone (even a relative or
your boyfriend) offers you money or gifts in
exchange for you touching them or doing
sexual or uncomfortable acts, DO NOT
ACCEPT IT! Move away and tell someone you
trust. Remember that it is important to save
some money but being safe and having control
over your own body and choices is always
much more important.
plan-international.org
• T
 o never let a job take priority over school.
Your education will allow you to advance your
own economic empowerment much more than a
small job now ever will. Always ensure you have
enough time to do your schoolwork, necessary
chores, and have some free time to relax and
have fun before taking on another job.
On attitudes: Conveying the message of
economic empowerment requires also a certain
set of attitudes, such as:
• F
 ocusing on hope rather than on
hopelessness. Without a doubt, girls
have to grow in a hostile world and face
many an obstacle, some of which appear
insurmountable. Although this fact may breed
rage and resentment, a strategic way to
approach it is to focus on what girls need and
should have as opposed to how much they
currently face. There is hope in every situation
and inspiring changes are happening every day.
That is the message we would like to convey.
• C
 overing the whole array of assets that
lead to economic empowerment. Although
savings are the main tool of this module, there
are several other aspects that help girls walk
the path to economic empowerment. Please
refer constantly to the BIIAG’s framework
of assets and obstacles (page 4) and try to
identify examples and opportunities in your own
community. If possible, focus on the assets
girls have collectively, which are varied and
plentiful, particularly in rural and indigenous
communities.
BEING ECONOMICALLY EMPOWERED 13
KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, PRACTICES AND SKILLS
KNOWLEDGE
Individual • Understands that reproductive
and productive work are
equally important if not equally
valued. (BEE1)
• Understands the vicious cycle
of poverty for girls. (BEE2)
• Knows how to use tools for
economic empowerment.
(BEE 3)
Community/ • Can identify who can support
Family or hinder their economic
development. (BEE4)
• Can identify role models
and successful cases of
economic empowerment in
her immediate environment.
(BEE5)
Institutional • Understands that gender-
based discrimination is
reflected in institutions, th
labour market and economics.
(BEE2)
• Knows about organisations and
mechanisms that could support
her economic empowerment.
(BEE6)
14 CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE
Attitudes PRACTICE AND SKILLS
• Believes the division • Can formulate economic goals
of labour between and a safe plan to achieve
boys and girls is them. (BEE3)
unfair. (BEE1)
• Believes she has
options for breaking
the cycle of poverty.
(BEE2)
• Acknowledges her
potential as an
economic actor
and a saver. (BEE3)
• Feels more confiden • Can formulate economic goals
to negotiate and a safe plan to achieve them.
economic decisions (BEE3)
and opportunities • Can develop strategies to
with her family. approach the people with the
(BEE4) most influence in her economi
• Realises the potential life. (BEE4)
for achieving
economic security
even amidst
hardship. (BEE5)
• Recognises herself
as totally capable
of making an
economic/productive
contribution to her
community. (BEE5)
• Is committed to • Can identify and access
building skills to resources in her path to
support her financia economic empowerment.
independence. (BEE6) (BEE6)
plan-international.org
Outline of activities
Name Length KAPS Key MESSAGES Description / Key steps
Activity 50 minutes • Understands Girls have the same right Girls begin by reflecting
BEE1: A that and ability as boys to on how work and income
girl’s life. A reproductive work and earn money. are distributed between
girl’s rights. and productive It is the system, and not genders in daily life in
work are the fact of being male or their community. Then
equally female, that limits what girls they will play a game to
important if not can achieve economically judge whether a story
equally valued. – and systems can change! of a girls’ economic
experience is fair or
• Believes the Economic empowerment
unfair. Based on these
division of is comprised of the
discussions, girls will
labour between ability to succeed
begin to identify what they
boys and girls economically and the
need in order to be more
is unfair. power to make economic
economically empowered.
decisions. Girls, their
families, their communities,
and institutions have a
variety of influence ove
these factors.

Activity 45 minutes • Understands There is a cycle that Girls begin with a game to
BEE2: + take- the vicious keeps girls in poverty, demonstrate barriers and
Breaking the home cycle of poverty which is an outcome of opportunities girls face in
cycle. assignment for girls. gender inequality. It’s their economic journey.
• Knows she related not just to girls’ Then they will explore the
has options economic situations, but multiple factors at play
for breaking also social and political in the cycle of poverty
the cycle of dynamics including beliefs, for girls. Finally, they
poverty. education, health, sexual will practice breaking
and reproductive rights, the cycle by role-playing
• Understands power dynamics, and conversations with
that gender- more. family and community
based members. As a take-
discrimination Girls have options for
breaking the cycle of home assignment, they
is reflected i think about how the cycle
institutions, the poverty. With the right
support, girls can and must of poverty applies to
labour market their own life and what
and economics take steps to escape the
cycle and change their opportunities they have to
future. break it. .

Activity 1 hour and • Acknowledges Girls will have This activity will introduce
BEE3: 5 minutes + her potential as economic options and girls to tools to help
Taking over: take-home an economic opportunities in their them increase their own
Building assignment actor and a future. To be able to take economic empowerment.
financial saver. advantage of them, it is First, they will consider
skills. • Knows how crucial to start developing their potential as economic
to use tools certain skills and attitudes actors. They will define
for economic now. SMART short-term savings
goal for themselves and
empowerment. Setting goals and saving
create a plan to achieve it.
• Can formulate money are important
Finally, they will decorate
economic goals tools for economic
piggy banks to keep their
and a safe empowerment. Getting
savings in and decide on
plan to achieve into the habit of savings
a safe space to keep it. As
them.. is a good way to enforce
a take-home assignment,
the discipline, economic
girls will fill out a monthl
advancement and
budget and come up with
decision-making skills
ideas to increase their
that girls need to succeed
income and decrease their
economically.
spending habits.

plan-international.org BEING ECONOMICALLY EMPOWERED 15

Outline of activities
Name Length KAPS Key MESSAGES Description / Key steps
Activity 45 minutes • Can identify Girls have allies who can Girls begin by working to identify
BEE4: + take- who can support support them in their those who have influence o
Finding home or hinder their economic empowerment their economic lives and who
allies, assignment economic journey. A good first ste will be allies in their journeys to
building a development. is to identify those who can economic empowerment. Then
network. • Feels more they will create skits to practice
be influential and supportiv
confident t having conversations with their
and to start a conversation allies and other stakeholders
negotiate economic about economic
decisions and about the importance of economic
empowerment. empowerment for girls. As a take-
opportunities with
her family. Assertive communication home assignment, girls will have a
conversation with a potential ally in
• Can develop skills are key in
their lives.
strategies to discussing economic
approach the empowerment and rights.
people with the Girls can practice having
most influence i conversations with more
her economic life. supportive allies first an
build their way up to more
challenging ones.

Activity 55 minutes • Can identify Every girl and woman In this activity, girls will hear
BEE5: + take- role models and has the potential to make from a female role model and
Role models home successful cases a productive economic example of economic success
like me. assignment of economic contribution to society. in their own community and
empowerment Finding and sharing have a chance to ask questions.
in her immediate Then, they will identify which
examples of those who are
environment. traits and skills allowed this
succeeding and seeing them woman to be successful as well
• Realises the as role models can help
potential for as the challenges she faced and
show the path forward. contributions she makes to the
achieving economic
security even larger community. Finally, they
Economic security and will think about the traits and skills
amidst hardship. advancement can be in themselves that will help them
• Recognises realised even in difficult be successful economically. As a
herself as totally circumstances. Personal take-home assignment, girls will
capable of making traits, skills, and support talk about the role model with a
an economic/ networks can help overcome friend or ally.
productive barriers and resistance and
contribution to her
provide the opportunity for
community.
success.

Activity 50 minutes • Knows about Even in a setting of Girls begin by checking in on

BEE6: organisations and economic domination, their savings progress from third
Roadmaps mechanisms that there are organisations week. Next, girls will explore local
for our could support and resources that can institutions and organizations
economic her economic support a girl’s economic with the potential to support their
future. empowerment. economic empowerment. Then
empowerment. First girls
• Can identify they will fill out their economi
must learn where they are, empowerment map and commit to
and access then they must act to utilize
resources in her following it. Finally, they celebrate!
them.
path to economic
empowerment. Through building assets,
• Is committed girls can walk their
to building own journey towards
skills to support economic empowerment.
her financia Assets girls can build include
independence. support systems, financia
skills, education, health and
16 CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE personal traits. plan-international.org

16 CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE plan-international.org

Activity BEE1:
A girl’s life. A girl’s rights.
Girls begin by reflecting on how work and income are distribute between genders in daily life in their
community. Then they will play a game to judge whether a story of a girls’ economic experience is fair
or unfair. Based on these discussions, girls will begin to identify what they need in order to be more
economically empowered
OBJECTIVES
● To be aware of the dynamics of economic domination and gendered division of labour.
● To know girls have economic rights and understand the obstacles to realising them.
●T o acknowledge that boys and girls are equally able to make a contribution to the household, earn an income
and manage money.

What You Need Links to KAPS

• Flipchart •U
 nderstands that reproductive and

50
• Markers productive work are equally important if
• Facilitation Sheet BEE1: not equally valued.
Is this fair for girls?
All ages • Handout BEE-A: Asset •B
 elieves the division of labour between
Chart boys and girls is unfair.
MINUTES
Key Messages
•G
 irls have the same right and ability as boys to work and earn money. It is the
system, and not the fact of being male or female, that limits what girls can achieve
economically – and systems can change!
•E
 conomic empowerment is comprised of the ability to succeed economically
and the power to make economic decisions. Girls, their families, their communities,
and institutions have a variety of influence over these factors

Tips for Facilitators

•W
 hile facilitating, make sure you post the flipcharts next to o e another as you’ll come
back later to them.
•A
 t the end of the activity, you’ll ask girls if there’s anything else they would like from
this module. Be sure to record these for yourself and spend some time afterwards to
see if these are attainable measures. Contact your Plan office f you need help adding
activities or programs to achieve the girls’ goals.

Before You Begin

•B
 efore beginning the activity, observe the girls in the community where you’ll be
working. Pay attention to their features and their attire and try to draw an image based
on your observations. You do not want to homogenise girls, just to create an image to
which participating girls can relate. Alternatively, you can have the girls draw one at the
beginning of the session – just allow 5-10 extra minutes for this.
•P
 repare a flipchart with an economic empowerment table on it – ivide the chart in two
and write “Ability to succeed” at the top of one side, a plus sign (+) in the centre and
“Power to make decisions” on the other side.
 eview the list of assets on Handout BEE-A and be prepared to classify each as
•R
adding to economic ability or decision-making power.
 repare separate flipcharts with th Key Messages written on them.
•P
INCIDENCIA
BEING
TRANSFORMADORA
ECONOMICALLY EMPOWERED
DE GÉNERO 17

plan-international.org BEING ECONOMICALLY EMPOWERED 17

 Steps to Follow:
In Plenary: A quick look into division of labour (15 minutes)
1. Begin by welcoming girls to the first activity of this module
2. To start, post the flipchart with your drawing of a girl from the communit . With the help of all
participants, quickly give the girl a name. Ask the girls to imagine that the girl is the same age as the
participants, is unmarried and lives with her family and is in school.

This flipchart should remain in the room as a reference point for the remainde
NOTE of the module.

3. Explain that the girl has a brother that is 1 year older and lives in the same household and that you
will all compare how a normal day would go for both of them, based on what participants have seen
and experienced in their own lives.
4. Now ask the girls to imagine a typical day of this girl by asking the following questions:
• “On a typical day, what time will (NAME) will wake up at? What time will her older brother
wake up at?”
• “In (NAME)’s home, which of them will cook / help cook?”
• “In (NAME)’s home, who will clean around the house?”
• “If money problems arise and one of them needs to be taken out of school, who would that
be?”
• “Who will take care of the younger children?”
• “Who will go out and play more?”
• “Who will spend more time with their friends?”
• “Who will watch the most TV?”
• “If (NAME) gets sent out for an errand, will she get a tip? If it were her brother that gets
sent out, would he get a tip? Would the tips be the same?”
5. Now tell them that (NAME)’s brother started carrying boxes at the corner shop. He makes a little
money and spends most of it with his friends. (NAME) is too busy with her chores to get a job,
so has no spending money. Ask the girls the following questions, and record their answers on a
flipchart
✓ •What do you think about (NAME)? How much work do you think she does? Why doesn’t she
make money?
✓ •Why it is so different for (NAME) and her brother? How much work do you think he does? Why
does he make money for that work when (NAME) doesn’t make money for hers?
✓ •Why do you think it is different for boys and girls? Who decides that? Is it fair? Can it change?
✓ •Are girls and boys just as able to earn money? Are girls and boys just as able to manage
money?

Watch for girls speaking negatively of the girl in their story. Ask questions to help them
NOTE understand that girls and boys have the same rights and ability to earn money and that
the work they both do is equally valuable and important.

6. Thank all participants and summarise by sharing the first Key Message with the group and talk through any
questions the girls have. Emphasise that non-paid work is just as important and requires as much effort as
paid work, but the difference is that in a patriarchal world, it’s preferred for males to retain control over money
and resources. This is why reproductive work, which is traditionally done by women, is undervalued. There
are exceptions to this and every day a greater number of women finish school, go to work and achieve
professional success. In many places, there is a struggle for equal pay with important progresses and even
some countries register reproductive work as part of their economic performance. Even if girls carry a greater
burden of the non-paid work than paid work, that doesn’t mean they don’t do anything or that they are not
worth anything.

18 CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE plan-international.org

 In Plenary: The judging game- Social and economic justice for girls (10 minutes)
7. Explain that now they are going to play a game. You will read out the situations of some girls and
they will raise their hand to vote if it’s fair or unfair.
8. Reach out the statements from Facilitation Sheet BEE1: Is this fair for girls? For each statement,
ask girls to explain why they consider every situation is fair or unfair. Clarify any doubts.
9. Ask girls, “What would need to happen for this girl to succeed? How could things be fairer in her
family or community? Who is responsible for making things fairer?” Ask a volunteer to record
answers on a flipchart. Discuss with the girls before moving on to the next statement
10. Once all situations have been read, share the second Key Message with the girls. Explain that,
although everyone may have the same human rights under international law, a lack of power
keeps girls from realising their rights and the non-realisation of rights keeps girls from gaining
greater power. This is a viscous cycle but with the right support it is possible to break it. Answer any
questions girls have.

This can also be a good place to acknowledge any rights that are not guaranteed

NOTE in their specific context or countr . Just make sure to frame this is as unfair and
discriminatory rather than based on any truth about girls or women.

In small groups: How to achieve greater empowerment (20 minutes)

11. Next, explain that in order to achieve greater fairness and rights for girls, girls themselves need to
gain greater economic empowerment.
12. Post the flipchart you prepared with the empowerment table on it, and ask girls, “What do yo
think economic empowerment means?” When girls have shared their thoughts, share the following
definition
Economic empowerment = the ability to succeed economically + the power to make economic decisions

13. Explain that there are assets that girls can have, do, or receive in order to have a greater ability to succeed
economically and have more power to make economic decisions. Some of these are things she can affect, while
others she may not have much control over.
14. Ask the group to break into 3 smaller groups. Bring back the drawing of the girl from the community. Ask each
group to list 10 things (NAME) would need to have, do, or receive in order to be more economically empowered.

Tip! If girls are having a hard time, give them a few examples of assets
from Handout BEE-A: Asset Chart to get them started.

15. Allow 8-10 minutes for small group discussions. Once all have around 10 assets listed, ask one member of each
group to present their answers in front of the larger group. As a group, classify each answer into one of the two
columns in the economic empowerment table.
16. Pass out Handout BEE-A: Asset Chart and ask girls to look through it on their own. Ask, “Are there any
assets on here we’d like to add to our list?” Thank them for sharing.

Some assets might fit in both columns. To encourage understanding, ask girls to think
about why it would fit in each. For example, staying in school ay help them have more
NOTE economic ability because they will have skills to get a job, and it also may help them have
more decision-making power because their education could help them gain respect in
their family and community.

plan-international.org BEING ECONOMICALLY EMPOWERED 19

17. Tell the girls that this module will address economic empowerment for girls. Together, they will
explore why girls face unequal economic opportunities, what their own economic dreams and goals
are, and a discover a set of tools for making them happen. Ask if there’s anything else girls would
like to get from this module in their journey to economic empowerment and write these down for
yourself to come back to later.
In plenary: Wrap It Up! (5 minutes)
18. Present the flipchart with the Key Messages and address any further questions from participants.
19. Before dismissing, ask girls to stand up, hold hands and say: “I recognize my rights and the value of my
work. I commit to do all I can to advance economically and get involved in more decisions related to my
economic rights”.

20 CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE plan-international.org