At TSIC, we are dedicated to pioneering innovative solutions for social change. With a strong focus on collaborative approaches, our work spans across various sectors, aiming to empower communities and drive systemic change. In this spirit, co-creation is not just a principle, but a guiding force in everything we do. Our unique approach involves working intimately with communities, ensuring their voices are not just heard but resonate through every stage of the evaluation cycle. This empowers them to spearhead initiatives for local change. 

Recently, TSIC embarked on a project focused on Girls and Young Women (GYW), hiring two young women as research interns. Their roles were integral, engaging in workshops, reviewing data collection tools, and sharing findings within their communities. 

This blog discusses their experiences, highlighting how their involvement is evidence to the power of locally-led change. 

Participant A: 

During the research process, I attended online workshops on data collection and analysis held by TSIC. These workshops were informative and transformative and provided information on the various tools and platforms that I could use to make the research a success. This eventually motivated me to start my community-based organisation, which is focused on educating girls and women about their rights and how they can become champions of change in matters that affect them. This offers a platform for these girls and women to take spaces in decision-making. 

I am also thankful for people who never got tired of helping and guiding me each time I had a question, or when I was confused with how to interpret the data, and they were there to offer clarity. They also created spaces for us and listened to the things that we wanted, making our communication with them much easier. I would also like to extend my gratitude because it is through them that I realized my full potential and developed a passion to change my community. I can proudly say that they made me a champion of change. 

Thank you for giving me a chance to learn. I aim to work extra hard to ensure that the learnings I learned during this project, must be shared among other young people because at the end of the day, all of us wish to see change. 

Participant B: 

The internship was an enlightening and profoundly enriching experience that I will always cherish. Working alongside the consultancy team, I found immense enjoyment in the unwavering commitment to the cause of empowering girls and young women. The team’s passion and dedication were not only evident in their work but also contagious, inspiring me to work hard under their careful guidance. 

The consultancy’s inclusive and participatory approach to research deeply resonated with me. They emphasised the importance of engaging girls and young women directly in the research process, giving us a voice and agency in shaping the study’s direction. This approach not only enriched the quality of our research but also underscored the consultancy’s commitment to fostering leadership and participation from within the communities we aimed to serve. 

In sum, my internship with TSIC was a profoundly rewarding experience. I leave this internship with a heightened awareness of the importance of data-driven research, an enduring passion for empowering girls and young women, and a deep appreciation for the dedication and expertise of the consultancy team. I look forward to seeing the positive impact of our work as it continues to champion the rights and aspirations of girls and young women. 

These testimonials from our interns highlight the profound impact that participant voices have in shaping research and fostering community empowerment. Their experiences affirm TSIC’s commitment to not only listen but actively involve those we aim to serve. As we continue to push for systemic change, it is clear that the perspectives and voices of participants are invaluable in creating meaningful and sustainable impact. 

We encourage our readers and partners across various sectors to join us in this endeavor – to adopt inclusive processes, hold spaces for critical discussions, and actively participate in the journey towards a more equitable world. 

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