INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD 2021
The National Youth Council was privileged to mark the International Day of The Girl Child in an event hosted at the Weston Hotel organized by the Forum for African Women Educationalist Kenya and other organizations championing for the welfare of the girl child such as Box Girls Kenya, The Make Way Alliance, The Right Here Right Now Alliance, The Kenya SRHR Alliance, NACONEK, The Centre for the Study of Adolescence (CSA), VSO Kenya, Daughters Of Kenya, NAYA Kenya, Plan International Kenya, MeTA Kenya/Access to Medicines Platform amongst others. The event was as well graced by representatives from National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK), The Nairobi County Department of schools and Adolescent Health, Spread Truth Africa, Ministry of Health, Department of schools and Adolescent Health, the Nairobi County Women Representative, Hon. Esther Passaris and the guest of honor Hon. Linah Jebii Kilimo the CAS State Department for Gender
The International Day of the Girl Child 2021 was marked under the theme “Digital generation. Our generation.” Together, we’re calling for equal access to the internet and digital devices for girls’ and targeted investments to facilitate opportunities for girls’ to safely and meaningfully access, use, lead and design technology. Digital inclusion and literacy open new avenues to learning, earning and leading for girls, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the pandemic has also deepened the gender divide around connectivity and online safety, with girls facing economic and social barriers to internet and device access. Girls are leaders. Girls are change-makers. Girls are driving good and growth around the world. They are a fundamental source of transformational change for gender equality, and technology is a crucial tool to support their work, activism and leadership.
Speaking during the occasion, the National Youth Council CEO MR. Roy Sasaka had this to say “Girls are leaders. Girls are change-makers. Girls are driving good and growth around the world. They are a fundamental source of transformational change for gender equality, and technology is a crucial tool to support their work, activism and leadership. Our young girls, you are special and unique. We all have challenges and girls you should not be discouraged by the challenges you face, but as the Bible says, no problem is strong enough to defeat you. Keep dreaming and work hard for your dreams. At the National Youth Council, We have programs such as Sawazisha Gumzo that specifically highlights items touching the girl child such as Teenage pregnancy, FGM amongst others. Sawazisho Gumzo as well give the girls a platform to discuss on their challenges and arrive at conclusive solutions on the same”
Director Spread Truth Africa, Reverend Hamisi Kirenga noted that: “We have to ensure we choose the right people as mentors in our life. Young girls, we have to trust in God for us to make it in life. As a young girl, ensure you learn and practice good values that can be emulated “
The Nairobi County Women Representative, Hon. Esther Passaris added “As girls, we can do what boys can do better. For you to make it in life, we need to begin by having realistic goals and writing them down. We then need to have a strategy on how we are going to achieve our plans. Work hard on your plan and for sure it will come to pass. One big thing you have to remember, ask God to be part of your plan, to guide you and remove distractors. You are allowed to change and upgrade your goals.”
The Guest of Honour, Honourable Linah Jebii Kilimo, the CAS Ministry of Public Service & Special Programs had this to say “It is sad to see young getting married off in the name of culture and traditional beliefs. Forced child marriages have devastating consequences on the health and development of girls and we need to do away with this backward activity. The government of Kenya greatly cares about the girl child. The constitution has items that promotes the welfare of the girl child like the laws barring FGM. The government has structures such as Free Primary Education that allows all our girls to have equal access to basic education. Teenage pregnancy and FGM are vices that affect our girls. The government is in a serious move to end this and has policies specifically for the same. As a girl, just believe in your dreams and work hard to achieve them as the government has your back always. Have self-actualization and look at ways you can achieve your goals. Let us be our sisters’ keepers and encourage our peers to achieve their dreams and not give up in life”
Catch up with this event on our social media platforms
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYC_YouthVoice
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YouthCouncilKe
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Article by Mike ( SLY MAKOTSI ) Khayeka: https://twitter.com/makotsi_mike
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