By: Mohamed M. Sesay
United Nations for Children Funds (UNICEF) has yesterday the 11th of October 2022, celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child with the Theme ; “Our right is now, our time our future”.
Liv Elin Indreiten, the Deputy Representative of UNICEF assured the school pupils that the 11th of October every year is a day to celebrate young girls around the world especially those facing educational obstacles.
She justified that the reason for the celebration is because sometimes girls in almost all the countries have been facing with obstacles in terms of education and insecurities.
She added that girls suffered tremendous challenges in terms of access to education than boys.
The UNICEF deputy representative in Sierra Leone encouraged the various school pupils to internalize the discussion in order to concertedly end the discrimination against girls.
She held the belief that girls can do better than boys only if the required opportunities are given to the girls.
Yvonne Aki- Swayer, the Mayor of the Freetown City Council, intimated the gathering that most challenges faced by girl child are predominately emanated from the homes.
She encouraged the school pupils that the best way to overcome such challenges is to accept who they are.
He reiterated that girls should always feel special and that they should not allow anybody to take that from them. “You determine who you are and by God grace, hold on to that strength”, she said.
Asmaa James, the Station Manager for Radio Democracy shared her experience to the school pupils of being a victim of early marriage of which she narrowly escaped. She added that she has a very sad upbringing as she grew up in the village where her mum died at age six.
Asmaa James further narrated that she was raised by her elder sister. She reminded that she was in class on one fateful day taking literature exams when she was informed that her dad has already made an arrangement for her to be wedded.
Madam James also intimated that she never returned home on that very day as she sought refuge to a friend at Aberdeen for almost a year.
She therefore, encouraged the school pupils to take their schooling very seriously as many opportunities and securities are now available for young girls across the world.
