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Our Story
SHE started as a class project for our Founder, Payton McGriff, in 2017. By chance, she was introduced to a professor at her University, Dr. Ro Afatchao, who invited Payton to his hometown of Notsé, Togo to research barriers to education for girls. Eleven days after meeting, Ro and Payton were on a plane traveling 4,000 miles to Togo.
While in Togo, Payton met Elolo, who became the inspiration for SHE. Together, Payton and Elolo launched SHE that summer and welcomed the first 65 girls into the program. Elolo was the first girl sponsored by SHE, and this enabled her to become the first high school graduate of her family. After graduation, Elolo quickly joined the SHE team as our Assistant Director.
Over the last 8 years, SHE has grown into a locally-led, grassroots organization that serves thousands of girls and women across 22 rural communities in Togo. We partner with rural villages where the barriers are much higher for girls and women, and we increase access to quality education and dignified employment.
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Watch our story below.
Our Mission
SHE empowers girls and women through education and employment opportunties
Our Vision
We envision a world where every girl and woman can do more than survive, she can flourish.
Our promise
1.
To equip and empower people in all we do.
2.
To create a global community that's uplifting and empowering.
3.
To share the truth of our journey - the successes, the failures and the progress in the middle.
4.
To convey the stories of the girls and women we serve with dignity and respect and to never exploit their circumstances.
5.
To get out of the way.
We are a launch pad for our girls to determine their own future. We provide the resources and support our communities need, and they decide the rest.