Urban Girls: Empowerment in Especially Difficult Circumstances

THIS BOOK LOOKS at the impact of urban poverty on adolescent girls and young women, who face particular challenges that are often overlooked in discussions of both urban poverty and children. The first chapter draws from a wide range of
studies to describe some of the very difficult circumstances that confront these girls, including household violence, life on the street, domestic labour, sexual exploitation and adolescent maternity.

The main body of the book consists of chapters which examine interventions and programmes in a number of areas: health care and mental health care; formal and non-formal education; income generation and vocational training; cultural activities; and advocacy efforts on behalf of girls and young women. Each of these chapters consists of a brief introduction defining the issues, followed by a relevant case study and descriptions of several programmes. The programmes described are from all over the world and are discussed in terms of their goals, the services they provide, their costs, the problems and successes they have had and the lessons they can offer. Of special interest is a final chapter that looks at efforts to involve boys and young men, both in recognizing gender issues and in helping to improve the situation for young women.