International Day of the Girl Child…Girls Empowerment Network Take A Moment Of Reflection
Sierra Leone Girls Empowerment Network has joined the world to celebrate the International Day of Girl Child. The day which was set aside by the United Nation on October 11th has it theme “Empowering Adolescent Girls; Ending the cycle of violence”
The event in Sierra Leone took the form of reflection
which took place at IPAM Campus central Freetown on Saturday 11th
October 2014. Various speakers made meaningful contribution about the
development and the growth of the girl child in Sierra Leone.
Giving a brief background about Girls Empowerment Network
Sierra Leone (GEN-SL) a Member of GEN-SL BrimaJohn said it is an opportunity
for all Sierra Leoneans to join the world to celebrate such day. He said they
can’t seat idle in this country and see girls going through horrible situation.
He said GEN-SL have lot of things to do to save the young girls in this nation.
He pointed out that they will be meeting other partners
that are working with girls in the country for partnership including the media.
He also cited places they will be visiting, having their target groups in
deprived communities, talking to dropout children, neglected children and
vulnerable children among others.
According to John he said there survey in Tombo proved
that ages below 18 years are mostly mothers in that community. He said they
also discovered early marriages, teenage pregnancies and lot of violence
against girls.
“We stand up tall because we think that we have people
who can stand with us in this society as we want to stop violence in our
community,” he said
John who sapped through the University also said even at
Universities young girls are facing with lot of embarrassment such as sexual
harassment, political, moral and social among others.
“This is the moment, this is the time we have to change
and build up the young people of this nation through that we will change the
face of Sierra Leone. For now our organization will run as a community based
organization,” he mentioned
Thomas A.L. Koroma Director of Operation/Marketing
–Xingwang Business Ltd made a presentation on the theme they are celebrating.
In his reflection he said October 11th in 2011 was design to be
international day of the girl child. In 2012 they had the theme ending early
marriage and in 2013 they have the theme innovating girls education and this
year theme “Empowering the Girls; ending the cycle of violence”
“In empowering our girls there are certain things we need
such as education which is the first and most important thing.”
That is why we always put focus on education on the girl
child during the adolescent stage; he said that stage is very much important in
life.
He disclosed that millions of girls are facing
discrimination every dayand that is the
reason the United Nation set aside
October 11th as a way of remembering the girl child.
“A girl child is not only a future mother but also a
great asset of a nation,” he stressed.
He also pointed out that the parents need to be more
conscious about the adolescent stage. He stressed that the parents have a vital
role in helping the girl child during that stage.
He emphasized that most of the problem they are face with
early marriage, prostitution among others started at the home because some
parents allowed their girl child to provide for the family during their
adolescent stage. He urged the parents to take up their responsibilities and
stop the girl to take up their own responsibilities.
A Nurse Educator, Ms. GiftyMassaquoi said as a woman you
can take the place of a man but if you think you can be down there you will
remain down there. She explained that the first encounter a girl child faces is
from the home. She said if the parents fail to correct the child at home she
will take it to the school and all over the community. He said the child needs
to look at the pear group.“ Let us leave as role model as women, fastening your
seat belt and stand up for your beauty,” she affirmed
Speaking onbehalf of the Media, one of Sierra Leone
finest journalist Mustapha Sesay said it is good that GEN-SL is partnering with
the media. He said they are doing a very wonderful work in the country.
Stressing that it is not the number that matters but the performance they are
giving. He said if they want to see a society therein the girls can be
outstanding they needed to be committed such as what GEN SL is doing. He
thanked them for inviting the media to such event and pledged the media support
to them at all time.
Director of GEN-SL Mathew Kanu said the day marks an
important one in the history of their educational system as they joined the
world to observe the International Day of the Girl Child.
“This day advocate for the empowerment and investment of
the girl child which is critical for economic growth.”
He said in Sierra Leone there are challenges facing the
statues of the girl child ranging from poverty, customs, attitude of parents
and school authorities and area of the part of the girls themselves.
He said until they all come together, the status of the
girls will continue to be dismal.
“It was with this vision that GEN-SL was born in 2013 to
join other stakeholders to raise the campaign on the improvement on the status
of the girl child. As an organization we identify two pilot areas which are the
Tombo community and Dworzark,” he said.
He said they have plans to visit schools and parents and
that they have developed a website to interact with people and the world at
large.
“My main vision here is to see how we can empower girls
and women and to see how we can get them involve in discussion making. We have
the vision as men but they as women have to sell it out for them,” he stated.
He thanked Mr. Koroma for his supports towards the
organization.
Other speakers include, IsataSesay Coordinator,
AdamaBangura Volunteer, and Thomas Gormoh Director of Africa Child and Alpha
Ngobeh who served as chairman.
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