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The International Rescue Committee (IRC), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Sierra Leone has facilitated training and graduation of 147 Older Adolescent Girls who received technical and vocational skills training from Bo Growth Centre Institution in their 12 communities across the chiefdoms of Baoma, Gbo, Selenga and Valunia. The Institution provide skills training for the girls in bread-baking, weaving, masonry, handicraft, sewing, hair dressing and catering. The graduation ceremonies were facilitated by the IRC’s ‘Adolescent Girls Empowerment and Protection Project’ (AGEPP 2019 – 2022) which is funded by Irish Aid, and took place in the chiefdom headquarter towns of Yamandu, Gbaima Songa, Mongeri, Dambala from 1st to 4th March 2022.
In her opening statement, the Deputy Director of Technical and Higher Education, Madam Hawa Koker, who chaired the occasion, advised the girls to, ” look beyond the graduation gowns, be more confident and take put in practice in your communities and national levels what you have learned.” She spoke about the challenges of adolescent girls, and the importance of middle-manpower development. She said that, “all is not lost, there is always time and space for a second chance” and encouraged them to use their start-up kits to generate income for themselves so that they can be self- reliant.
Present at the different ceremonies were Paramount Chiefs, Representatives of Paramount Chiefs, , sub chiefs, the Board and Management of Growth Centre Institution, Bo District Council Councilors, Women Leaders, adolescent boys, the Management of International Rescue Committee, IRC Community Facilitators, Mentors, and a Representative of the Irish Embassy.
In her address the Representative of the Donor from Irish Aid, Mrs. Aminata Jalloh explained that the purpose of the Irish Aid funded AGEP Project ” is to empower girls to be able to make informed choices and decisions whilst giving the parents and extended family unit the tools needed to value and support their daughters in order for them to realise their rights and their full potential.” Having explained objectives of the project, she congratulated the graduates, other project clients, community stakeholders and IRC for achieving the project objectives and indicators. She informed the audience that the skills training and other project activities have changed the lives of girls. In addressing the girls, she said, “you are no longer where you used to be three years down the line since the inception of the project in April 2019.” She expressed regret that girls in Sierra Leone are disproportionately affected by many key development challenges; including lack of access to quality education and health care, adolescent pregnancy, child marriage, sexual and gender- based violence and harmful practices. However, she maintained, that one way of overcoming these structural bottlenecks is through formal education and/or “occupation – specific skills”. In summing up, she challenged the girls to make positive choices that will affect them personally and the communities in which they live and by extension the country at large.
Mrs. Janette Garber, the IRC’s Women and Girls Empowerment Protection Programme Coordinator thanked Irish Aid for maintaining a longstanding funding relationship with the IRC. She acknowledged the hard work of the Growth Centre Institution and it’s commitment and willingness to train the girls at community level. She said that amongst technical and vocational skill training institutions in Bo contacted to conduct training at community level “Growth Centre Institution was more forthcoming in accepting the challenge and has demonstrated professionalism.” She urged the trainees to maintain a relationship with the institution for sales of their products and other emerging opportunities.
At another graduation ceremony held in Dambala, Selenga Chiefdom on 4th March, 2022, the IRC Country Director Saffea Senessie, thanked the Paramount Chief Desmond Kangobai and his chiefdom authorities for being supportive since inception of the AGEP Project in the chiefdom in April 2019. He informed all that although the project will end on 31 March 2022, however, the IRC is exploring donor opportunities to continue empowerment of women and girls in Sierra Leone. He inspired and encouraged community members to support themselves in making positive changes in the lives of women and girls. He laid emphasis on the fact that “transforming negative community norms to positive norms will promote power balance between men and women.” As a result, he said, prevention of early marriage, teenage pregnancy, Gender Based Violence and retention of girls in schools will be upheld at all levels.
In her remarks, the Managing Director of Growth Centre Madam Kadi Fellie encouraged chiefdom authorities to provide land for the construction of show-rooms in their respective communities for sales of items the graduates will be producing. In response, local authorities of Yamandu, Gbaima Songa, Dambala and Mongeri assured Growth Centre Institution that her request will be considered and acted on.
The ceremony was climaxed by presentations by younger adolescent girls, who demonstrated the impact of the project on their lives; distribution of certificates; distribution of start-up kits; unveiling of items produced by trainees, and a cutting of a celebration cake baked by the graduates.
