In 2024, we supported 4,093 girls aged 13 to 18, along with 788 of their children!
Prostitution is illegal in the Republic of the Congo, yet it remains widespread. Many girls under 18 are forced into prostitution to survive, enduring daily physical, mental, and sexual violence. Deprived of income, these girls face a future with few prospects. Over 50% of the AIS beneficiaries are mothers.
AIS provides a comprehensive humanitarian, educational, medical, psychological, and developmental program for girls aged 13–18 who are victims of sexual exploitation. The program gives them the opportunity to reclaim their future through schooling or vocational training.
2024 Impact
- Outreach: 354 street outreaches reaching 4,093 girls under 18 and 1,239 over 18.
- Daycare Referrals: 1,579 girls under 18 referred to our daycare centers.
- Nutrition: 28,060 meals distributed to girls and 9,219 to their children. On average, 25 children aged 3 months to 5 years attended our nursery centers daily.
- Medical & Psychological Support: 1,172 medical consultations and 1,941 psychological, social, and family interviews provided. 41 girls reunited with their families. 103 girls were referred to our Gender-Based Violence program by external adults, other organizations, or police.
- Preventive Health: 32,795 condoms distributed.
- Education & Therapy: Weekly group therapy, educational activities, and 772 literacy classes conducted. 42 girls graduated from vocational training programs.
Achievements for Girls Ages 13–18
- 85% of girls are reintegrated into their family, returned to school and/or gained stable income generation
- 15% are reintegrated into family/society but remain unemployed
- Only 5% are unaccounted for
A new cohort of girls, some as young as 8 years old, has been forced into sexual exploitation to survive the global economic downturn and the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. The suffering these girls endure, the long-term consequences for their development, and the urgent need to stop this trend cannot be overstated.
In January 2023, AIS launched a project to support around 30 girls aged 8 to 12.
AIS’s comprehensive “care cycle” program provides these young girls with medical, psychological, educational, and legal support. After a stabilization phase in AIS centers, girls are either reunited with their families or placed in foster homes, with school re-enrollment facilitated whenever possible.
They then transition into the program for girls aged 13–18, continuing their education or enrolling in vocational training to reclaim their future.