Stone Soup Magazine for young readers, writers, and artists

Our Crossing Borders international pen-pal program connects students in the US with Syrian refugee girls living in Jordan and establishes relationships with migrant children from Central America who crossed our southern border. GPI is also motivating young female artists from impoverished backgrounds and recognizing their work with prized creative contests, creating an online community for these marginalized girls to share their stories, with a future GPI magazine in the works to share girls’ accomplishments worldwide! Through a series of writing workshops approved by Syosset School District, and in conjunction with Another Kind of Girl Collective, a media arts collective for and by young women living in displaced, migrant or transitory communities, we connected the community’s students with Syrian refugee children living in the Za’atari camp in Jordan, building mutual acceptance and respect for both worlds, and allowing students to connect, bond, and inspire one another. Crossing Borders was so impactful, the program coordinator at Za’atari camp wrote: “The personal connection and admiration conveyed in the letters are literally lifelines for some of the girls.” Since then, Crossing Borders has developed writing relationships with over 40 Syrian refugee girls in Jordan, connected with a community of Central-American migrant children in New Orleans, bonded with students in the Samburu Tribe of Kenya,  with much more to come!

We are establishing GPI chapters around the globe, like Girl Pride Samburu, our first chapter (recognized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protections and the State Department of the Republic of Kenya), which is currently working closely with several local schools to purchase much-needed core-curriculum books, PPE, sanitary products, and solar lamps to keep students, particularly girls, engaged in learning.  Our conviction to be advocates for girls worldwide is poignantly exemplified by a recent intervention, where GPI fought hard to prevent the dropping out and child marriage of now 12 year old Lisano L., top of her 5th grade class in Kenya. By intervening in the courts, providing material assistance, and advocating for Lisano’s future, GPI has helped change the trajectory of Lisano’s life (who is now proudly a Girl Pride Ambassador). We are also planning to build libraries and additional classrooms in GPI Samburu, and are working with local government, businesses, and community leaders to better the community. Part of Girl Pride International’s work in GPI Samburu also involves building of maternity homes through our Community-Building Projects, a core aspect of our Ambassadors Scholarship Program, a flagship initiative which supports the lifelong development of GPI Ambassadors, members committed to serving their communities.

Girl Pride International has committed to making an impact on migrant children in the undocumented community in Village de l’Est, in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward. Cristiane Rosales-Fajardo and Tiane Oliver are the tireless organizers of El Pueblo NOLA who work in the surrounding communities feeding and supporting children in need. They even reunited 140 migrant children who were separated from their families. In addition to the work in New Orleans, Girl Pride International assisted El Pueblo NOLA with its hurricane relief effort in Honduras in the aftermath of Hurricane Eta and Iota, where they had been on the ground with their team in Honduras for weeks distributing food and basic necessities. ⁠These two hurricanes hit Central America two weeks apart, with catastrophic consequences affecting millions of Hondurans. And recently, with the aftermath of Hurricane Ida on the coast of Louisiana, GPI also aided El Pueblo NOLA with their relief and recovery efforts, both personally and through a community fundraising effort. We were happy to provide for their material needs during these difficult times, and have continued fostering our relationship with them. In fact, we are currently in the process of establishing a Girl Pride chapter in El Pueblo NOLA to support this inspiring and hard-working community!