Reclaiming Her Future: How Mounira Built a New Life Stitch by Stitch 

In West and Central Africa, the right to education and a life free from violence remains an elusive dream for too many girls. But through the dedicated efforts of community  organizations like ADEP (Association d’Appui et d’Eveil Pugsada (ADEP) in Burkina Faso, and with support from the Ensemble initiative, that dream is being reclaimed—one girl, one voice, and one stitch at a time.  

A Childhood Cut Short 

Mounira’s story echoes that of many girls in the region.  

“I dropped out of school in Grade 4. My uncle refused to pay for my education,” she shared.  

Like thousands of others, she found herself cut off from opportunity, without resources, and unsure of how to advocate for her dreams. The future felt distant and dim.  

A Path to Power at ADEP 

That path began to shift when she found ADEP, a grassroots organization working in partnership with the Ensemble initiative—a multi-year, survivor-centered movement led by EngenderHealth to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) in West and Central Africa.   

At ADEP, Mounira began to attend daily sessions focused on:  

But it wasn’t just the content that changed her life—it was the community.  

“I went to ADEP every day. And each day, a new presenter came to the center and taught me about GBV, reproductive health, and girls’ rights. It was a safe space. I could learn freely. I had meals with the other girls at the center. That gave me back my courage.” 

This kind of holistic, trauma-informed care is a cornerstone of Ensemble’s strategy—addressing GBV by ensuring access to essential, multi-sectoral services including health care, psychosocial support, legal aid, and economic empowerment​. 

Reclaiming Her Future 

Today, Mounira is not only surviving—she’s thriving. She now lives with the father of her child and is preparing to marry. Most importantly, she has discovered financial independence through a trade she loves: sewing children’s clothes. 

“Thanks to the entrepreneurship trainings at ADEP, I can earn a bit of money. Without the support and education from ADEP, I wouldn’t be who I am today.” 

Her story reflects Ensemble’s mission: to amplify girls’ agency, build positive social norms, and create safe spaces for healing, empowerment, and economic resilience. 

Thank you to Marie-Jocelyne Kangah and Kate Tibone for sharing Mounira’s story. 

EngenderHealth led the Ensemble initiative, from 2022 to 2025, addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in five countries in West and Central Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Mali. Ensemble means “together” in French, and we designed this program with the understanding that by working together, our impact will be greater than the sum of our individual efforts. To that end, we collaborated with governments, civil society organizations, and other national and regional stakeholders in West and Central Africa to support local actions to prevent, respond to, and ultimately eliminate GBV. Critically, Ensemble placed women in the lead; the project was co-designed with local organizations run by and representing GBV survivors, youth, and women. 

Want to help eliminate GBV and empower the next generation of girls? Discover more of EngenderHealth’s work here.