We want to share an exciting update about the lasting impact your support is having on the lives of young girls in Chile.

Thanks to your generous contributions, the Talita Cumi Girls’ Clubs program has made measurable strides in helping girls develop confidence, build relationships, and grow in their sense of self-efficacy.

It all started many years ago when Barb, the founder of the Girls’ Clubs, was asked a question that led to a transformative journey: “But is it evidence-based?”

Though initially surprising, the question sparked Barb’s pursuit of understanding the deeper impact of the program, leading her to pursue a Ph.D. in Youth Development from Texas A&M University. Along the way, she took the necessary steps to ensure the program was both effective and measurable.

One of the first things Barb did was collaborate with Fuller Seminary’s School of Psychology to conduct a Process Evaluation. This evaluation helped answer questions like:

• Are we implementing the program as intended?
• Why were certain outcomes achieved, or why did we face challenges in achieving others?
• What are the areas where we need to make mid-course corrections?

Through this evaluation and ongoing research, Barb has been able to track the growth of the girls participating in Talita Cumi and measure their social self-efficacy, one of the key indicators of personal development.

What is Social Self-Efficacy?

Social self-efficacy refers to a person’s belief in their ability to form and maintain healthy relationships, avoid manipulation, and seek help when needed. It is a critical factor in adolescent development, and we have seen some powerful results in girls in Talita Cumi.

The Evidence

Through careful research, Global Servant colleagues and partners in mission in Ecuador, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and The Dominican Republic, tirelessly helped Barb gather data on the progress of the Girls’ Clubs, comparing girls who participated in the program with those who did not (the control group).

Here is what the data shows:

• Before starting the program, the girls in the Talita Cumi Girls’ Club had the same trajectory of social self-efficacy as girls in the control group, moving away from growth in social self-efficacy.
• After just 9 months of participation in Talita Cumi, the girls’ trajectory completely reversed. Instead of the expected decline, their self-efficacy increased, moving them toward an upward trend in their ability to form healthy relationships and seek help when needed.
• The control group, on the other hand, continued their expected path of decline, proving that the program’s impact was substantial and not due to chance. The statistical findings were significant, falling well below the .05 threshold, meaning there is very little probability that the observable difference between the self-efficacy of participants of the program and the control group is due to random chance.

The Impact of Your Support

Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we have been able to extend the reach of the Talita Cumi Girls’ Clubs. We are thrilled to announce that through the support from American Baptists’ One Great Hour of Sharing offering, girls from the control group have been invited and many are now participants for more than a year in a Talita Cumi Girls’ Club.

Your personalized support of Barb and Dwight makes many good things possible!

What’s Next?

We are committed to continuing this work and expanding the impact of Talita Cumi.

It is equipping local churches with an effective, life-changing ministry, being the presence of Christ in their communities.

With your continued support, we can provide even more opportunities for girls to experience growth, build confidence, and develop life skills that will serve them for years to come.

In the long run, this is what it’s all about: “…until Christ is formed in you.” (Galatians 4:19)

We thank you for being part of this important work and for making a real, measurable difference in the lives of these young girls. Your contributions allow us to see that change is not only possible, but it is happening—statistically, and most importantly, in the hearts and lives of the girls we serve.