Shaping futures through practical agency

Practical Agency: Why it Matters

Research synthesised by J-PAL and other institutions shows that strengthening girls’ agency, the confidence, skills and ability to make and act on informed choices, can improve educational outcomes and help girls better navigate the social pressures and constraints that shape their futures.

This is why Social Uplift Africa exists. We partner directly with local schools to strengthen girls’ practical agency through a structured, evidence-informed programme that addresses immediate financial barriers while building capabilities for the longer term. Working with local schools, we combine targeted education support with structured, evidence-informed life-skills mentoring shaped by the priorities girls themselves identify. Our practical agency approach focuses on the below core areas:

Education Support

Life-Skills Mentoring

Participant Voice

We cover verified school-related costs beyond tuition, ensuring financial gaps do not disrupt a student's educational continuity or classroom engagement.

Regular sessions using Kenya's KICD-approved curriculum build essential capabilities, from digital literacy and financial planning to healthy relationship management.

We actively listen to our cohorts, adapting our structured mentoring to address the specific, real-world challenges that the girls themselves identify.

Evidence-informed interventions where they are most needed

Partner with us today

We are committed to responsible growth, transparent monitoring, and safeguarding. Join us as a funding partner or volunteer as a mentor to strengthen educational continuity and practical capability for vulnerable girls.