On Her Terms – overview

On Her Terms: Overview

Amos Trust’s ‘On Her Terms’ campaign is transforming the lives of girls and young women on the streets so that they can live free from abuse. We are journeying with them as they take control of their own lives, challenging the injustice they experience daily.

Storytelling, Solidarity & Sisterhood

Our experience shows that the key is forging strong, trusting relationships with these girls and then to build programmes and activities from this, which a girl can engage with ‘On Her Terms’.

SUPPORT ‘ON HER TERMS’

On Her terms is Amos Trust’s campaign to transform the lives of girls and young women whose lives revolve around the street so they can live free from abuse.

On Her Terms is a Methodology:
We journey with girls as they take control of their own lives, challenging the injustices they experience every day.

Core Principles and Values of On Her Terms:

acknowledging the long journey many girls are on
respect & no judgement
girls’ are the experts of their own lives
recognition that most girls will have experienced acute/multiple traumas
each situation is different — no one size fits all
relational approaches are key — “Change happens at the speed of trust”
the need to challenge systemic injustices.

Key approaches in an On Her Terms methodology:

outreach: meeting girls where they are at (going onto the streets & the places they stay)
girls are given multiple opportunities to respond and are able to become involved when they are ready
female-only spaces* and/or sessions and/or programmes are vital
a person centred, relational approach is key; relationships are built over time as young women learn to trust the project staff
programmes and activities must emerge out of these relationships
a high degree of patience from workers is needed as the work will often progress slowly (the girls’ lives are often chaotic or controlled by others)
the resilience of workers is key and needs to be invested in as girls will often push boundaries to see if they can trust the staff (or even themselves)
girls will often drop out of programmes (for multiple reasons) and they need the opportunity to be able to re-join them when they are ready
skilled interventions are required for the multiple trauma girls have experienced
the best approaches enable girls to support one another on the street and build girls’ collective strength
practical support such as health and hygiene, support in childcare, nutrition are often key tools to build relationships
it is vital to challenge the systemic and structural drivers that lead to girls being on the street and to challenge gender-based violence at every level.

On Her terms is also a Space:

for learning and reflecting on what works
for training & developing workers
for workers from different contexts to meet and share best practice
for training & developing workers
for workers to support one another, to stand in solidarity, to share struggles, and hold the sadness together
to develop areas of expertise (and share the unique areas of knowledge) held by the organisations involved
to celebrate the successes and moments of progress.

My friends outside of work often ask me, “why do you spend your time and energy working with these kinds of girls, who live on the streets and sell themselves for sex?” I reply, “your question of their worth, is exactly why I do this work. Everyone else has rejected them”. Revina — Social worker, Cheka Sana Tanzania

Collective Vision: Amos Trust brought together women from 8 countries who work with girls on the streets. Girls who face child marriage, prison or are involved in sex work. They shared new ways of working, with a collective vision to see girls live free from abuse. This is their story.

Street Justice cards

Take a look through our range of resources, including blog posts, downloads and products, to find out more about our Street Justice work.

Blog

On Her Terms update April 2019

Karunalaya, our partners in Chennai, India, have been representing their country and the rights of children on the streets since 2014. This year is no different as Karunalaya is representing South India at the Street Child Cricket World Cup in London in May. Full details.

Street Justice Support us

Am I Next? Women protest in South Africa

“The sense of outrage has now reached fever-pitch levels in South Africa. But it is nothing new for Umthombo’s staff as they continue to reach out and journey alongside the young women and girls on the streets of Durban.” On Her Terms lead, Karin Joseph writes about the tragic increase in gender-based violence in South Africa.

Street Justice Support us

On Her Terms update October 2019

Our October On Her Terms update features news from our partner Umthombo in South Africa and their work on the streets with girls and young women in Durban, details of how you can join Amos Trust in Tanzania next summer and how you can do something tasty in October by hosting a Diwali Dinner to raise money for Karunalaya’s work in Chennai in India.

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Sakthi on the streets of Chennai An update from our partner Karunalaya

“If you respect us, you’ll listen to us. If you listen to us — you’ll protect us. Please protect us.” Safety for girls on the street is a daily struggle and the options open to them are often slim; many families decide that child marriage is the safest option for their teenage daughters. On Her Terms Lead Karin Joseph shares her experience of a recent visit to Karunalaya, Amos’ partner in Chennai, India.

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Change Happens at the Speed of Trust Umthombo, Durban

“Little by little, the Umthombo team began to witness a change in Sibongile. Her outlook on life became more positive and she started to express a real desire to continue with her education and pick up her high school qualifications again.” Karin Joseph shares a story from Umthombo’s girls’ outreach team in Durban.

Street Justice

Give Hope, Give Life Leave a legacy to Amos Trust

“I know leaving a legacy is one of the best ways to support Amos — indeed it is the one thing I was certain of when I sorted out my own will 17 years ago, when I was pregnant.” Writing a charity into your will can be a daunting process. Amos’ Katie Hagley says it doesn’t have to be that way.

Street Justice Support us

“I feel alive again!” Karin Joseph reports from her recent visit to the Cheka Sana Foundation in Mwanza, Tanzania.

“Their approach is having profound effects, combining group work, support with business training and self-defence sessions. On our third day together, the female workshop participants accompanied Cheka Sana staff members, Nyangi and Revina, to the self-defence training.” Amos’ On Her Terms Lead Karin Joseph reports from her recent visit to the Cheka Sana Foundation in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Street Justice

Stay at home, but how? Chris Rose and Karin Joseph write about how for some, it’s not that easy

“As much of a challenge as we may all be finding the lockdown — which now has more than a fifth of the world’s population living under varying degrees of ‘stay at home’ orders — for those living on the streets, the Coronavirus pandemic is no less terrifying, but the ability to self-isolate or #StayAtHome is not an option available to them. ‘Home’ is on the streets, in abandoned buildings, or temporary structures open to the elements.” Amos’ Director Chris Rose and On Her Terms Lead, Karin Joseph write.

Street Justice

Awe-inspiring Amies Freedom Choir

“It was only after the performance that I found out something that made Amies even more extraordinary — each member of the choir was a modern slavery survivor who had been trafficked to the UK, to be forced into either prostitution or domestic servitude. To have the confidence to stand up and sing in front of a large crowd having been through such traumatic experiences is truly awe-inspiring.” Guardian journalist Jessie McDonald writes about a moving performance.

Street Justice