Safety, Healing, and Hope
EngenderHealth’s Work to Address Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
Meet Emilienne
At just 17, Emilienne was facing a future she didn’t choose. Her family in Burkina Faso was pressuring her into a forced marriage. But thanks to awareness sessions supported by EngenderHealth and the local organization Association d’Appui et d’Eveil Pugsada (ADEP), Emilienne knew her rights—and where to go for help.
She turned to ADEP, and the staff acted immediately to protect her. Emilienne found refuge at the center, escaping the forced marriage and gaining friendship, safety, and a new path forward.
Through vocational training rooted in our survivor-centered approach, she discovered a passion for weaving. Today, she proudly earns an income selling the traditional cloth of Burkina Faso.
“I’m 17 and a half now. Life at home has improved. I’m happy,” Emilienne says with a smile.
What is Gender-Based Violence (GBV)?
GBV includes physical, sexual, psychological, and economic harm rooted in unequal power dynamics based on biological sex or gender identity.
GBV disproportionately affects women and girls. One-third of women around the world report that they have experienced GBV. The consequences can be life-altering, leaving survivors physically and emotionally scarred, often without access to essential healthcare, social services, or justice.
These are preventable tragedies. EngenderHealth is working to stop them.
What Your Support Makes Possible
Your donation helps EngenderHealth partner with communities, health systems, and governments to:
- Prevent violence by shifting harmful social norms and engaging men, boys, and community leaders in gender equality
- Train health workers to recognize and respond to GBV with empathy, dignity, and clinical expertise
- Provide critical services to survivors, including emergency contraception, HIV treatment, post-rape care, and legal abortion
- Create safe spaces where adolescent girls and women can receive counseling, connect with support networks, and rebuild their lives
- Expand opportunities for young women to build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed decisions and reclaim their futures
In the past year alone, EngenderHealth supported survivors of more than 100,000 GBV incidents and helped thousands of women and girls access lifesaving care and protection.
You Can Be Part of the Change
When you give to EngenderHealth, you’re helping create a future where girls like Emilienne are not only protected, but empowered to thrive. You’re supporting efforts that prevent violence, care for survivors, and build stronger, safer communities.
Together, we can create a world where safety is the norm, not the exception—and where every woman and girl can live her life with dignity and hope.