Yes, I don't understand. Maybe someone can explain.
Why is the girl child different? How different is the girl child?
Why should she be the substitute? Why should she be the drop out?
Why should she grow forcefully to become an adult when she is yet to turn sweet 16?
Maybe someone knows why? But believe me, whatever reason you have isn't enough to deprive her of a human right. Why do you think she should be the victim of early marriage? Why should she become a drop out for the boys to go?
Now I'll tell you what..
Every girl child is first human. Yes they are. Education is a fundamental human right. Why deprive them? I have always said this without fear that we are the destroyers of our future because we are depriving some aspects of the human race their fundamental human rights.
Girls have brains, yes! They can learn everything and anything.
Education is the power we give ourselves to be empowered to develop our world. It is the power we can possess to drive away poverty from among us.
So how far have we gone by depriving the girl child of the power to make herself better and that of her community?
Now to all educated women out there, we haven't arrived. We share feminism, we share the same life stages. It is time we add our voices and push for these deprived girls in communities- most especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Because for me, what we have become now is our right, and we are here because we were allowed to enjoy our rights. We need to be advocates for these deprived girls; everyone of us.
To investors and philanthropists, I believe our world will head towards poverty free if we invest in education for all; both the boy and especially the girl child. Because the saying is true- " if you educate a girl, you educate a nation"; what girls do is to take what they have home and share with all.
Great thanks to Camfed, yes thanks for championing the course of investing in us - in the education of girls in Africa. Girls, who otherwise would have been faceless and deprived of their rights as human.
To whoever disagrees with me, I am willing to hear what you have to say about me and my course.
Tell me why it should be the girl child denied of a basic human right, and the case shouldn't be championed. Let me hear you, I am willing to hear you.
And when you end up not having a single reason? Nothing to say, we are of one voice. Education is for all, he or she. And if she is denied, I am for her.
Let's join hands to fight against early marriage, among other hindrances like poverty, broken homes, in the way of the girl child. Let's give her our joined hands to come out.
written by
Veronica Agyiri
(agyiriveronics@gmail.com)
Education is a right for all.
Why is the girl child different? How different is the girl child?
Why should she be the substitute? Why should she be the drop out?
Why should she grow forcefully to become an adult when she is yet to turn sweet 16?
Maybe someone knows why? But believe me, whatever reason you have isn't enough to deprive her of a human right. Why do you think she should be the victim of early marriage? Why should she become a drop out for the boys to go?
Now I'll tell you what..
Every girl child is first human. Yes they are. Education is a fundamental human right. Why deprive them? I have always said this without fear that we are the destroyers of our future because we are depriving some aspects of the human race their fundamental human rights.
Girls have brains, yes! They can learn everything and anything.
Education is the power we give ourselves to be empowered to develop our world. It is the power we can possess to drive away poverty from among us.
So how far have we gone by depriving the girl child of the power to make herself better and that of her community?
Now to all educated women out there, we haven't arrived. We share feminism, we share the same life stages. It is time we add our voices and push for these deprived girls in communities- most especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Because for me, what we have become now is our right, and we are here because we were allowed to enjoy our rights. We need to be advocates for these deprived girls; everyone of us.
To investors and philanthropists, I believe our world will head towards poverty free if we invest in education for all; both the boy and especially the girl child. Because the saying is true- " if you educate a girl, you educate a nation"; what girls do is to take what they have home and share with all.
Great thanks to Camfed, yes thanks for championing the course of investing in us - in the education of girls in Africa. Girls, who otherwise would have been faceless and deprived of their rights as human.
To whoever disagrees with me, I am willing to hear what you have to say about me and my course.
Tell me why it should be the girl child denied of a basic human right, and the case shouldn't be championed. Let me hear you, I am willing to hear you.
And when you end up not having a single reason? Nothing to say, we are of one voice. Education is for all, he or she. And if she is denied, I am for her.
Let's join hands to fight against early marriage, among other hindrances like poverty, broken homes, in the way of the girl child. Let's give her our joined hands to come out.
written by
Veronica Agyiri
(agyiriveronics@gmail.com)
Great piece girl. I want to be part of this campaign
ReplyDeleteEwurama, my sister, you didn't tell me you write. You know this makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. There's been longstanding inequalities against woman and girls accessing education and they still exist.
Child marriage, early pregnancy etc are still real barriers against advancement of girl education.
That's said, I appreciate the strides being taken and that have already been taken by Women rights movements for Girl Child Education. I support this cause 100%
In Kenya, girls are now leading in national examinations. Enrollment of girls to universities is almost equivalent to the boy's and its projected more women will be university than men in only a few years.
Gendering this issue has born incredible fruits.
But that's only looking it from a female perspective.
I feel that the world needs to be sensitized on the also-important barriers that young boys and men are increasingly facing in pursuit of education.
You know in my village, teen pregnancy is prevalent (which hinders young women from accessing education)
But poverty is also prevalent.
A lot of young men and boys (and also girls) don't finish school because their parents won't afford fees.
A lot boys have quit school to illegally become motorcycle
riders both because of poverty but because of unexplained uninterest in education.
A lot of young boys in this village, and I say a lot, are engaging in child labour to provide for their families. They wash cars, fetch water, dig land, carry sand and bricks, do casual labour to provide for their families (who don't afford fees to take them to school or atleast to vocational institutions).
These boys have also been englossed in gambling, crime and drug abuse. And they are only boys. Ruined just like that.
And we don't see that as a gender issue.
In Pastoralist communities where child marriage (which is something you are addressing) has been prevalent, young boys drop school to feed cattle.
Also, young boys in this communities miss months worth of Education for circumcision rituals!
Also due to 'you-educate-a-girl you-educate-a-community-you-educate-a-boy-you-educate-just-a-boy' rethoric parents are taking girl education seriously and relegating boy education.
The principal at my former school realised parents pay for girls fees in time and in completeness than they do for boys.
Finally boys from traditional families on the verge of being men are kicked out of their homes to go provide for themselves. They are told there is no money for college. Go be a man. Get out of here.
Barriers boys face should not be overlooked!
Equality is no longer about having an equal number of boys and girls in school but having ALL CHILDREN IN SCHOOL.
Wow! Those are great words Bonface. I like the idea of bringing to fore the very problems of society. Until we know the problems we have no course to work at. Let's all rise against the abuse of rights of these girls. Let's stand against the very practices that is shuttering the dreams and potentials of a great human power.
DeleteI look forward to be working with you and all others who share the course of mirroring society and solving the ill practices deteriorating the shine and shin of communities.
Beautifully crafted. The girl Child deserves the best.
ReplyDelete