February 17, 2021
Beneficiaries of the Program
By: Audrey. R. John
In a bid to continue to counter the social pressures that discourage girls from achieving their own version of success, Strong Women Strong Girls (SWSG) Sierra Leone celebrates Valentine’s Day with 30 adolescent girls in Kenema District in a seminar that was aimed to raise awareness on the dangers around misconceived activities teenage girls engaged in on Valentine’s Day.
Giving the overview of the Seminar, the Regional Coordinator, east for Strong Women Strong Girls Sierra Leone, Mariama Genedemeh said Valentine’s Day is a day which is believed by most people as a day to show love to someone special in your life or to your lover. This concept has been used notoriously against the girls by devious boys and men. It is a day girls are lured and deceived into giving their pride away all in the name of so-called love.
Hundreds of girls (especially teenagers) come under the pressure to show love by way of having sex; usually for the first time. They are persuaded into unwanted sex, exposing them to high risk of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Some even face sexual violence, perpetrated by their teen partners and older boyfriends, resulting to high rate of teenage pregnancy every year.
Thus, the Strong Women Strong Girls (SWSG) Sierra Leone organizes a one-day seminar in Kenema – a district which suffers high rate of teenage pregnancy. The event took place on the 14th February, 2020 and it included seminar and experience sharing on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, with the theme, “SEX FOR TEENAGE GIRLS ON VALENTINE’S DAY IS AN ABUSE NOT LOVE”.
The seminar brought together over 30 school going pupils, inclusive of teenage girls who were enlightened on the misconceptions surrounding St. Valentine’s Day and sensitized on sex education. Several relevant topics were discussed including, the Effect of Early Sex on Girls, Refusal Skills and saying NO to Prevent Girls from High-Risk Sexual Intercourse amongst many.
SWSG Mentors who served as key speakers for the event, laid emphasis on the abuse of girls on Valentine’s Day and how that can be combated. They concluded strategies which girls can use to redeem themselves from being victims of teenage pregnancy and sexual abuse.
The event was climaxed with role plays and focused group discussions on Peer Pressure and learning to say NO where the girls were given the opportunity to show where the problem lies and how it can be remedied.
The Strong Women Strong Girls (SWSG) is an organization working towards strengthening the socioeconomic status of women and girls and providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in life. This would aid them to contribute meaningfully to social change and build a sustainable and healthy society.
