About two years ago, I was meeting a group of adolescent girls and boys in Aravan, a rural area in the southern part of Kyrgyzstan, to talk about their lives, their plans and visions for the future. Something that struck me was that girls were very keen on continuing education, learning new skills and building a professional career. They were very optimistic and energetic when we discussed what professions they would choose. Adolescent girls were expected to marry early and serve the family. However, when talking to community members, we saw that these aspirations were not supported. Adolescent girls were … Continue reading Helping girls aspire for more