Firelight Foundation

FUND AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SYSTEMS CHANGE FOR CHILDREN IN AFRICA.

CHILD RIGHTS AND CHILD PROTECTIONFIRELIGHT FUNDED AND SUPPORTED 5 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN MALAWI TO CATALYZE AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SYSTEMS CHANGE TO FIGHT CHILD MARRIAGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. BASED ON PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED ROOT CAUSES AND SYSTEMIC FACTORS, GRANTEES FACILITATED THEIR COMMUNITIES TO ANALYZE AND TAKE ACTION TO INFLUENCE THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AND STAKEHOLDERS THAT AFFECT FACTORS RELATED TO CHILD MARRIAGE, SUCH AS FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY, GIRLS' ACCESS TO SCHOOLING, TEENAGE PREGNANCY, NORMS AND PRACTICES AROUND SEXUALITY, ACCESS TO SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, AND EXPANDING GIRLS' OWN VISIONING OF THEIR FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES. FIRELIGHT WAS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE CHILD RIGHTS AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION FUND (CRVPF), A REGIONAL INTERMEDIARY ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES GRANTS AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN UGANDA, TANZANIA, KENYA, AND ETHIOPIA WITH A FOCUS ON ADVANCING THE SAFETY AND RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONFIRELIGHT FUNDED AND SUPPORTED 7 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN ZAMBIA AND 6 IN MALAWI, TO CATALYZE AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SYSTEMS CHANGE TO IMPROVE EARLY CHILDHOOD ENVIRONMENTS AND OUTCOMES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. GRANTEES FACILITATED THEIR COMMUNITIES TO MAP OUT AND TAKE ACTION TO INFLUENCE THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AND STAKEHOLDERS THAT AFFECT CHILD WELLBEING SUCH AS FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY, PARENTING SKILLS, ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF NUTRITIOUS FOODS, QUALITY OF CARE AND EDUCATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTRES, CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEMS, BELIEFS AND NORMS, AND GOVERNMENT POLICY.FIRELIGHT ALSO FUNDED AND SUPPORTED 7 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN KENYA INCLUDING YOUTH-LED ORGANIZATIONS, TO WORK WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES TO IDENTIFY THE PRIORITY ISSUES FACING YOUTH IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND ANALYZE THE ROOT CAUSES AND SYSTEMIC FACTORS UNDERLYING THOSE ISSUES. SUBSEQUENTLY, GRANTEES WORKED WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP AND CARRY OUT ACTION PLANS TO ADDRESS AND INFLUENCE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AND STAKEHOLDERS THAT AFFECT YOUTH RESILIENCY AND BELONGING IN THEIR COMMUNITY SUCH AS INCREASING YOUTH ACCESS TO GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND HIGHER INCOMES, REDUCING WIDESPREAD DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, CONNECTING YOUTH TO COMMUNITY MENTORS, AND SUPPORTING YOUTH ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE.FIRELIGHT FURTHER FUNDED AND SUPPORTED 4 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN TANZANIA TO CO-DESIGN AND CARRY OUT A COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH STUDY EXAMINING THE INTERSECTIONS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT. EACH ORGANIZATION WAS SUPPORTED TO WORK WITH THEIR COMMUNITY AND A RESEARCH CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP AND REFINE RESEARCH QUESTIONS, DECIDE ON METHODOLOGIES, ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY-BASED ETHICS REVIEW, AND DEVELOP TOOLS FOR DATA COLLECTION.