Plan International Sierra Leone with support from UK aid, and other partners launched the Girls Education Challenge Project booklet at Kona Lodge, along King Street.
The purpose of the book’s launching is to share key learning’s of the project that could be emulated or reflected on for future programming and institutionalization in Sierra Leone.
Emma Cowan from UK aid was delighted those years of hard work yielded dividends, and as a result of British support the GEC project has seen the northern star for every girl child in the Country, facing education challenge.
She said the target is to meet all categories of girls in all of the districts around Sierra Leone, at all levels.
Madam Cowan encouraged beneficiaries of the education project to utilize opportunity accorded them to speak up in order to make full use of their potential to contribute to society.
Officially launching the GEC project booklet, Deputy Minister of Information and Communication, Cornelius Devaux lauded the efforts of Plan International and its partners for the initiative noting that Government remains committed to ensure that girls remain in classrooms and not become victims of early marriage, teenage pregnancy, or other forms of violence and abuse.
He maintained that when a girl is educated up to tertiary level it is less likely for her to become victim of teenage pregnancy and early marriage, and puts her in a better position to contribute positively to society.
Deputy Minister Devaux, also encouraged the implementers of the GEC project to consider exposing the children to information technology using smart devices which will not only allow them to chat with parents, but makes room for them to access e-books and carry out research on assignments, thus exposing them to the outer world and being part of the global IT network.
He said Government has also made strides to give more access to education, but the challenges are still there, and it is the collective responsibility of all to make the future bright for posterity.
Mr Devaux commended beneficiaries who made it to the top and called on them to serve as encouragement to others who are still on the road to success.
A retired educationist and health care provider, Marion Morgan who is also vice chair of the Forum for African Women Educationist (FAWE) gave a food for thought statement emphasising the need for stakeholders to put in more effort and come up with various education programmes to lift disadvantaged girls out from poverty, early marriage and teenage pregnancy.
She said as a founding member of FAWE, members of the organisation will continue to give the necessary support vulnerable girls need to have access to education.
Recalling some true life experiences of two young girls who benefited from FAWE, Madam Morgan said the girls came from families where it was difficult for the parents to finance education, especially where the siblings are many and boys are in the majority, which makes it even worse for the girls to get an opportunity to access education.
With support from FAWE the two girls who came to Freetown as a result of the country’s post war, were able to access education at a late age but after years of perseverance the two girls are now women of substance who can stand up tall in society.
The FAWE vice chair commended Plan International and partners for the bold initiative to undertake the GEC project which seeks to alleviate such challenges facing young girls, especially those in rural communities.
In an overview of the Girls Education Challenge (GEC) project, Chief of Party, Sybil Baylor stated that the UK aid funded GEC consortium led by Plan International with International Rescue Committee (IRC) Handicap International, Open University and FAWE, under the leadership of Ministry of Education, Science & Technology (MEST) are providing bursary packages to 21,600 girls including 2052 boys and girls with disability.
She added that study groups are also supported including accelerated curriculum roll out in child protection and psycho social support in schools.
Madam Baylor furthered that the GEC project is being implemented in 12 districts, around the country.
She noted that Sierra Leone is one of 18 beneficiaries around the world and the 3rd in West Africa to champion the challenge to give more access to disadvantaged girls in the country.
Making a statement, Plan International Country Representative, Casely Coleman explained that Plan seeks to fight for children’s rights to access quality and affordable education, which will make them useful citizens and lift them out of poverty
He assured the gathering including the beneficiaries that Plan International will continue to solicit support from partners to ensure that young girls be girls and remain in school, to complete their education up to tertiary level.
Mr. Coleman encouraged the girls not to be distracted but to focus on their education, noting that the GEC project is a huge investment, which should be taken advantage of and make their dreams become a reality.
By Ade Campbell
Friday July 22, 2016
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