CODE, GALI, and the Girls Who Are Coming Back to Lead

A conversation with Andrea Helfer, Chief Development Officer, CODE

60 million girls: CODE has been a valued partner of the 60 million girls Foundation for many years. What first drew your organization to this partnership?

Andrea Helfer: What drew us in was 60 million girls‘ deep commitment to reaching the girls who face the greatest barriers — not just getting them through the school door, but making sure they stay, learn, and truly thrive. That resonated with us immediately. We’ve always believed education is one of the most powerful tools for changing lives, and here was a partner who shared that conviction and acted on it.

60MG: Tell us about GALI, the Girls’ Accelerated Learning Initiative. How did it come to life?

AH: GALI grew out of a challenge our long-standing Liberian civil society partner, the WE-CARE Foundation, brought to us in 2017. They were seeing too many adolescent girls fall behind in school — interrupted by poverty, caregiving, early pregnancy, or displacement — and at real risk of never coming back. Rather than arriving with a ready-made solution, we listened. Together, we designed GALI as an after-school literacy and life-skills program that would help over-age girls return to learning with confidence, dignity, and a genuine sense of possibility.

Photo credit: CODE – Carielle Doe

60MG: Where did 60 million girls come in?

AH: In 2018, 60 million girls became GALI’s first institutional funder — and that meant everything. You understood the need, appreciated the community-led design, and were willing to take a calculated risk on a modest but promising initiative. Your early support also enabled digital learning through RACHELs, which strengthened the program considerably. That kind of early belief from a funder is rare, and it’s what made GALI’s growth possible.

60MG: Our previous collaboration had gone so well that it was natural for us to support GALI! As you may recall, CODE generously provided e-books written by Sierra Leonean authors and illustrators to enrich the RACHEL content of our Mobile Learning Labs for use in Sierra Leone.

60MG: How has GALI grown since those early days?

AH: What started in one school has grown to 40 schools, now serving nearly 2,000 girls. With each additional round of funding, we were able to refine the model and better address the real barriers girls face in their school journeys. But the impact goes beyond the numbers. Girls who once felt completely excluded from education are building confidence, strengthening their literacy, and seeing new possibilities for themselves. And communities are feeling it too — families are recognizing the long-term value of keeping girls in school.

Photo credit: CODE – Carielle Doe

60MG: What’s one lesson from this partnership that has stayed with you?

AH: That small organizations can create outsized change. Much like 60 million girls itself, GALI began with a simple but powerful goal and a relatively modest investment. When you root a program in local leadership, listen carefully, and have a partner who trusts the process, the impact can far exceed what anyone imagined at the start. It’s a reminder that doing this work well doesn’t require a massive budget — it requires the right relationships.

60MG: What’s coming next for GALI — anything you’re especially excited about?

AH: Yes — and it’s a full-circle moment we’re incredibly proud of! The next phase of GALI will include a mentorship component connecting younger participants with past GALI girls who are now in secondary school or have already graduated. These young women are coming back to guide and encourage the next generation. That’s the kind of ripple effect you hope for when you invest in a program — and it would not have been possible without 60 million girls‘ early belief in GALI and your steadfast support over the years.

Photo credit: CODE – Carielle Doe

60MG: As the 60 million girls Foundation marks 20 years of impact, what does this milestone mean to CODE?

AH: We’re honoured to be part of that story! Twenty years is a remarkable testament to what a focused, values-driven organization can accomplish. For CODE, this milestone is a reminder of why long-term partnerships matter — the kind where trust is built slowly, risks are taken thoughtfully, and the people closest to the challenge lead the way. We’re deeply grateful, and we look forward to continuing to open doors for girls and strengthen communities together for many years to come.

About CODE

For over 65 years, CODE has been dedicated to creating a more literate world. Canada’s leading international development agency focused on literacy and education, CODE works alongside local partners across Africa to establish engaging learning environments through locally-authored books, trained educators, and well-resourced libraries. codecan.org