On the occasion of the International Day of the Young Girl, Plan International Guinea is increasing its activities to promote the rights of young girls. On October 23, in a hotel reception in Cona-Cris, the NGO hosted a panel under the theme: how to strengthen the leadership development of young girls and the possibility of their participation in decision-making bodies.
Several students and activists promoting the rights of young girls and nannies participated in the meeting. Dame Camara Aissata Traoré, retired chalk eater and activist for the rights of girls and nannies, was one of the panelists . At the start of her speech, she welcomed the choice of theme which she found carefully considered.
According to her, the struggle for education, the promotion of leadership of girls and nannies began a long time ago. But at some point, we have to reassure ourselves that the girls have understood something about everything they have received in terms of support from the family, from the population, from management at school. “If so, what can they do with it? Then, ask ourselves the question of our contribution as elders, development institutions in favor of girls and children in our country? And in the future, what does this allow young girls to become? This is the problem,” she tells the girls, before recognizing the work done by activists and institutions who are involved in the development of young Guineans. “It is through these spaces of exchange like this panel that the young girl can learn to speak in public. Perhaps some of you have amassed skills, training or knowledge, etc. This will allow those who already have the will to act, to develop, to undertake something and to be inspired by their models to evolve, because it is not a question of asking girls what they want to do. , but rather we must show them the path to follow. If there are several paths, let them choose the one they want to achieve a good end.”
Dame Fatoumata Hann, executive director of WAFRICA Guinea (Women Africa), understand Women of Africa and consultant in Human Rights and Development, says that observing the girls today, she has the vagueness of seeing two pictures. And we will only succeed in painting the right picture when girls become aware and get involved. “Everything will depend on the commitment you have within yourself. There are things that have been made available to you, for example, the schooling of the young girl. After they have gone to school, it is imperative that they be part of decision-making bodies, that they govern like men. For this, the numbers started to increase. Unfortunately, this whole path was strewn with pitfalls. Certainly many girls were able to go to school, but under what conditions? Some went but marriage and other social circumstances hindered their path. Some were able to go to school, but the families did not understand that they must go to school like boys, and we must let them study like boys, that is to say, have the same privileges and the same opportunities. Nevertheless, we have still moved forward,” said this activist. Dame Hann adds that the future is how to consolidate what has been done. “Let’s continue to work on the pitfalls, Plan Guinée is doing it and all of us are doing it. So for me, the future remains shaped as we want, but let’s leave the path that prevents us from moving towards this radiant future. »
The way to school is an unsafe place these days
While we told parents to send girls to school, school became an unsafe place. “Before, parents told us that a girl who arrives in 6th year, once in college, it’s going too far, because there is the problem of safety on the way to school. Today, we hear things happening at school that are scary. We must therefore resolve this problem as quickly as possible, because girls should not be exposed where they should be protected. When this is the case, it is dramatic. So, we will all have failed. And the State, and us parents but also the management. So for me, today if we must continue a fight, it is that of education. Let’s secure the school environment so that our girls can flourish. If this is done, once our young girls go to school, they will be able to take charge of their destiny and move towards this bright future.”
For the initiator of the “A girl, a future” project, Lydie Tonguino, of course, these girls are considered young people, but they can be leaders who can promote change in the future. So, it is “impossible to talk about the future without talking about leadership or without involving our young girls in this process,” she said. Speaking about girls’ vision for the future, Lady Lydie believes that we do not need to create a future for every young girl. Rather, it is up to them to create the path to follow to be fulfilled. “To enable them to have this vision of the future, it is important to create spaces for exchange with the aim of listening to them, understanding their concerns in order to give them guidance. After that, I think it is also important to put in place means and opportunities, to support them in achieving their aspirations. Many girls dream of achieving great things, but they are not listened to, they are not guided to achieve them. As representatives of organizations working to promote women’s rights, we must increase spaces for discussion to listen to young girls, create means to support them…”
Progress in the rights of young girls and challenges ahead
According to Dame Camara Aissata Traoré, there has been progress in terms of education and the promotion of nannies in Guinea, because, she says, in certain villages, before, we could not talk about the schooling of nannies. girls, let alone let them have the entrance exam in 7th year, leave their villages and finish their studies elsewhere. “And the means were not even there to build infrastructure so that there would be colleges in these villages… To date in Guinea, we have won the challenge of sending girls to school, that is to say, say that when registering in 1era year, before we could only find 20% girls or even less, all the rest were boys. But now, at registration, you can find more than 50% girls. All this, thanks to the information and awareness activities that women’s rights activists organize to explain to communities the importance of education in itself, but even more so that of the girl child. We have not won the bet in full, but let’s not give up,” concluded Dame Camara.
Kadiatou Diallo
2024-10-26 17:44:00
