Beyond the Classroom Foundation Launches Safer Girls Workshop to End Gender-Based Violence in Schools
The Beyond the Classroom Foundation (BTCF) has officially launched the Safer Girls Workshop, a focused training initiative under its IGNITE-funded Beyond Her Odds Initiative, aimed at equipping adolescent girls with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to understand, prevent, and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) — both online and offline.
The program, which will reach over 200 girls across Bwari and Kabusa communities this November, comes at a time when BTCF has observed a worrying increase in incidents of GBV affecting adolescent girls, particularly digital harassment, cyberbullying, online grooming, and non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The foundation has noted that many girls are unaware of how to protect themselves online, leaving them vulnerable to both virtual and real-world abuse.
“We have seen firsthand how girls are exposed to physical, emotional, and digital forms of violence, sometimes even within spaces that should feel safe, like classrooms,” said Mrs. Raquel Kasham Daniel, Executive Director of BTCF. “In this era of Artificial Intelligence, the risks are even greater: AI-generated deepfakes, manipulated images, and online impersonation are new tools of abuse that girls must learn to navigate safely.”
Aligned with the 2025 UNiTE Campaign for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Safer Girls Workshop emphasizes that digital safety is central to gender equality. The workshop is designed for girls aged 11 to 16 and runs for 1 hour 30 minutes, combining interactive discussions, storytelling, and practical exercises to address online harassment, peer pressure, grooming, and offline abuse.
“Every girl deserves to be safe, in classrooms, at home, in her community, and online,” Mrs. Daniel added. “Through these workshops, we are helping girls identify warning signs, know their rights, and take practical steps to protect themselves while supporting others.”
Mrs. Mayowa Adegbile, Executive Director of Ashake Foundation, a partner in the initiative, highlighted the collective responsibility required to protect girls:
“Ending gender-based violence is not just a girl’s issue; it is a community responsibility. Programs like Safer Girls empower young women to recognize threats, speak up, and access help, ensuring that schools remain safe, supportive learning environments.”
Participating schools in Bwari and Kabusa will host the sessions, provide support for students, and be recognized as Safer Classroom Champions under BTCF’s Safer Girls Approach. This initiative also serves as a model for integrating digital safety education into schools, preparing girls to navigate a rapidly evolving technological landscape safely and confidently.
This activation is part of BTCF’s broader Beyond Her Odds Initiative, which focuses on empowering adolescent girls to rise above vulnerability and inequality through education, safety, and leadership development. By combining awareness, skills-building, and community engagement, BTCF is fostering a generation of girls who are informed, confident, and resilient.
