By: Mira Garin
“Girls Invest: A Mobile-Enabled Economic Empowerment Intervention for Girls” is an app-based program that promotes the intertwined facets of financial literacy, health, and social empowerment among adolescent girls. Girls Invest builds on Dr. Elizabeth Reed’s findings related to gender inequity, economic vulnerability, and associated poor health outcomes among adolescent girls. While similar economic interventions have been successfully implemented in other nations, negative health outcomes from diabetes to intimate partner violence have persisted in the United States in part due to the relatively little emphasis placed on addressing gender disparities in economic vulnerability. After completing less than three hours of training and activities on topics such as sexual health and identifying unhealthy intimate relationship dynamics, girls aged 15-22 are given a savings account and $100 deposit to start their financial empowerment journey. “Girls Invest recognizes that economic empowerment for girls has to go beyond basic financial literacy training,” explained Dr. Reed. “Economic empowerment is also about promoting equity in girls’ education, careers, as well as within their families, at school and work, and in relationships – only then do we empower girls to make the best life decisions that support them to reach their potential.”
When the initial pilot program kicked off with 50 girls in 2016, Dr. Reed and her team partnered with Self Help Federal Credit Union (SHFCU), an organization whose central mission is to expand opportunities for underserved local communities. Adriana Enloe, who became SHFCU’s San Diego Branch Manager in 2019, has been key to this partnership as the program shifted from its pilot stage to the expanded program, with over 200 girls across 18 schools and community organizations in San Diego. Although Girls Invest was faced with COVID-19 pandemic related delays, Ms. Enloe found creative ways to incorporate Dr. Reed’s team in community events. With support from SHFCU’s leadership and the San Diego branch team, a comprehensive action plan was developed to address the challenges that come with a new youth program and move forward with opening accounts for the girls. “I cannot imagine the countless hours of their time that has gone into being a part of Girls Invest,” Dr. Reed reflected, “and could not be more grateful for our collaboration together.”
