Re-Storying in Action: a Girl & her world Brings New Stories to Life

Photo from a Girl & her world

At NewStories, our commitment lies in the transformative power of Re-Storying—a dynamic approach that alters the lens through which we perceive our communities, challenges, and ourselves. We embark on a collective journey with individuals, communities, and organizations, guiding them through unraveling their current narratives and encouraging the envisioning of new, empowering stories.

Yet, the significance of this Storywork extends beyond mere imagination and ideation. It involves the subsequent steps of repatterning through various processes and restructuring by actively working to bring those envisioned stories into reality. Thus, the journey of Re-Storying encompasses both the RePatterning and Restructuring required to effect tangible short- and long-term change.

a Girl & her world: A Living Testament to Re-Storying

The impactful endeavors of a Girl & her world, a non-profit organization that focuses on helping girls in rural Fiji get back to school and develop income-generating projects, stand as a living testament to the Re-Storying process in action. Introduced to this powerful organization by my dear friend Laura Pittman, I had the privilege of meeting the girls and team members during our visit to RakiRaki, a beautiful, rural part of Fiji (details of our work with the girls will be shared in a subsequent blog post). A profound conversation with a Girl & her world founder, Jane Kennedy, revealed the resonance between their initiatives and the work of NewStories.

Addressing Barriers to Education

With a background in health, Jane found herself working for the Fiji Red Cross Society, where she traveled around the islands, engaging in health promotion and building powerful relationships. One of the Red Cross volunteers was Urmila, an Indo-Fijian woman who worked tirelessly to support her family and those living on the poverty line. 

In 2011, Urmila spoke to Jane about her youngest daughter, Kajal, and expressed her daughter’s struggle to complete school due to financial constraints. “She mentioned to me that her youngest daughter is incredibly smart and would like her to attend high school,” Jane explained. “She said her daughter could be the first person in the family to break the cycle of poverty. Urmila was selling roti and all of her vegetables at the market but just couldn’t seem to close the gap.”

This sparked Jane's inquiry into the root of the issue, which turned out to be as simple as an AU $40 gap hindering her access to education. Over the next 12 months, Jane ensured ongoing support for the Kajal, realizing that small amounts could make significant differences.

“In the months that followed, I think I gave her a total amount not dissimilar to the cost of a week’s groceries, which, combined with her resourcefulness, has meant that Kajal was able to start and stay in high school.”

Jane's observations expanded, and she wondered, “How much does it ALL cost? What are the barriers to girls going to school and staying at school? What are some of the stories? What could we do to help more efficiently?”

 Jane uncovered a broader issue affecting many girls in Fiji—barriers to education due to the inability to afford school supplies, uniforms, or sanitary products. Drawing from her experience with NGOs, Jane founded a Girl & her world, focusing on providing essential support to remove these barriers.

Empowering Through Tangible Support

When creating the organization, Jane knew it was critical to have someone on the ground to guide the organization, and asked her friend Urmila to be the coordinator in Fiji. Urmila’s girls would be sponsored by the program, and would eventually be joined by other girls in neighboring communities.

“Many times the girls’ parents were unable to afford the school fees, or some just didn’t even have shoes, bookbags, or uniforms,” said Jane. “For many girls, their hair presentation and having ribbons was really important. These are all easy and simple things that I knew we could help provide and shouldn’t be barriers to girls going to school.”

Jane also emphasizes the importance of staying present to current realities and adapting to shifting needs to support Fiji’s vulnerable families. 

She highlights the dynamic nature of their efforts, stating, "The needs have shifted and changed over the years, especially as a result of COVID. During that time, we focused on providing electronic devices or extension cords to get power. We had to try to get the girls access to keep learning from home when they didn’t have what they needed, or their parents were not literate and unable to support them. Furthermore, the cost of trying to get access to the internet or print out your homework can amount to three day’s wages!" 

Currently, the organization focuses on families supported by the Ministry of Social Welfare, ensuring identified vulnerabilities and reasons for non-attendance to school are addressed.

Jane details their initiatives, including annual fundraising drives and innovative solutions like creating special bus passes and filling gaps for girls pursuing higher education. She underlines their commitment to responding to evolving needs, citing recent support for girls with specific challenges, such as helping girls with disabilities or collaborating with health nurses so that girls can obtain sanitary items such as pads and underwear.

For Jane, a fundamental aspect of the organization's work is the active engagement with individual stories, ensuring that support is tangible and personalized, creating a lasting and meaningful impact.

The Ripple Effect of Re-Patterning and Re-Structuring

The organization supports around 75 girls, providing scholarships, and essential items, and supporting them in income-generating projects. The impact goes beyond facilitating their return to school; it empowers them to reshape their families' narratives. 

Jane loves sharing a young woman named Shivani's inspiring journey. “Initially facing financial struggles, she became one of the first girls we supported,” she says. “Now, working as a nurse in Lautoka, she has overcome challenges. Initially lacking essentials, we assisted with uniforms and supported her mother's vegetable business, providing new tools for her to grow and sell in her community. Her mother supported her daughter through school and contributed to her community by giving away a significant portion of her crops. Shivani was able to pursue nursing, making her the first in her family to finish high school and pursue tertiary education.”

Shivani's story highlights the transformative power of tangible support, empowering her family to restructure traditional roles and repattern their economic prospects. This concrete assistance has ushered in a shift in familial dynamics and forged new narratives for Shivani's future and the collective well-being of her family.

Re-Storying, Re-Patterning, and Restructuring 

The work of a Girl & her world reaffirms that a key element of creating new stories is actively supporting the repatterning and restructuring process. The inspiring journey of the organization and the girls and families it supports showcases the transformative impact of Re-Storying when accompanied by tangible support, authentic collaboration, and a commitment to local empowerment.