The project Strengthening citizen participation aims to contribute to the promotion of an environment conducive to citizen participation and the leadership development of 140 young girls in Kati in the management of public affairs. The approach relies on young people, particularly young girls, who are at the heart of the change process. Social mobilisation, the creation and dynamization of active young citizens’ clubs and social media are used to strengthen their confidence and influence practices that are not conducive to the emergence of female leadership and their participation as citizens. The right to be heard will be the foundation of their movement through the promotion of accountability and active citizenship actions (promotion of rights, involvement of young people in decision-making bodies and businesses)

APJK has been provided with a procedure manual, which has enabled the association to improve its performance in administrative and financial management.
35 people, including 25 young girls and 10 members of the association, have seen their capacity strengthened on the following themes:
Training on rights and duties, the planning and budgeting process, the different types of taxes in the commune of Kati, the use of social networks, leadership and active citizenship.
Organisation of 50 educational talks by the 28 leaders of the CJCA girls’ club. After training the 28 girl leaders from the various neighbourhoods of the commune: Kati koko plein, koko plateau, farada, malibougou, kati coro, lukezi, heremakono, Tombo, Mission, noumorila, ntominikoro and fouka, they held educational talks in the girls’ groups, particularly the grins and schools.
These talks raised awareness among more than 1,150 young girls and boys, women and men, of the roles and responsibilities of young girls in building active citizenship and running the community.
The first edition of the citizen café was attended by more than 175 people, including members of the APJK, members of the CJCA club of young active citizens and other youth organisations, and partners in the presence of local authorities and the press. The main guest was Ms Macalou Awa Dembélé (writer, editor and storyteller). She is currently the honorary Grandmother of the Cité des enfants du Mali (2005) and has been a member of the Commission Vérité, Justice et Réconciliation CVJR (Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission) at Koulouba since 2016.
Since obtaining the Voice programme, APJK Jelenya has been involved in a large number of training and awareness-raising activities, most of which focus on talks and debates on the rights and duties, active citizenship and responsibilities of young girls in the various neighbourhoods of Kati.

Activity

• Capacity-building for young girls.
• The organisation of communication activities to change social behaviour through talks in clubs and neighbourhoods and mass mobilisation activities.
• Setting up referral mechanisms to public and private service management bodies.
• Initiate advocacy activities to promote young girls’ rights to active citizenship and sexual and reproductive health.
• Promoting citizen participation and distributing citizen passports.