Girl Power Project - GPP

GIRL POWER PROJECT REPORT TO GLOBAL GIVING - AUGUST 2017

Organisation: ChildHelp Sierra Leone

Country:          Sierra Leone

Project Locations: Bombali, Kenema and Regent Districts

Donor:             Global Giving (UK/USA)

Co-financier:      Anne Frank Fonds, Switzerland; Grace, Faeth and Bradley Webb (USA)

Project:                Girl Power Project

Reporting Period: June to August 2017

Description:

Serra Leone is a small country that has experienced with tragic happenings and has been through so much since the rebel war, past Ebola killings and now massive flooding and mudslides.  In project  communities, discussions mentioned the barriers that marriage girls, pregnant girl-children and young/child-mothers face in returning to school; children have been working in homes, farms and streets to fend for their families; Poor parenting and discrimination of children accessing education, poor school infrastructure, Poor access to school due to high direct and indirect costs of schooling and  Low value placed on education as parents say girl-children never finish school; Family or Community related factors - Cultural, traditional and religious beliefs and practices, girls not allowed to be released by parents to go too far to schools for fear of engaging in high social risk activities. Teachers are leaving communities because they are not on the payroll. Lack of water to drink in schools and defecating in bushes and streams due to lack of toilet and no gender equality promoted within school and community structures.

Even though Socio Cultural system based on traditional African customs places male dominance over female in decision making, control of resources and leadership, women and girls suffers most, marginalized and uncared for. “No nation can be better than the quality of its education; no education can be better than the quality of its teachers; no family can be better than the quality of education of its members”.  Education is a human right for all children and girl-children who are not in school are being denied that right, resulting in unexpected early marriages, unwanted pregnancies and unwanted babies.

The donations from GlobalGiving Foundation, Anne Frank Fonds, Girls Not Brides, Friends and the Webb family, help to improve life changes for Girls who experience complex marginalisation to access and retainin higher primary and Junior secondary schools, strengthen their back to school learning, engage and ensure that their voices are heard and also improve the lives of community teachers. The support targeted 78 of the most marginalized girls dropped out of school and 6 teachers at the YUA School due to increased poverty. Funds were also used on field events that identified survivors and assessed the prevalence of early child marriage and teenage pregnancies so as to end such practice. Capable beneficiaries were involved and engaged in community meetings to actively take the process forward.

Hundreds of girls affected and in extreme poverty are still out there, inflicted with pains both physical and emotional, needs educational support, mentoring and breaking free from the circle of violence and poverty, neglect and marginalisation.  Funds are needed to support these girls to access basic education and be agents of change in their communities. With continued donations from supporters, this will help end child, early and forceful marriages, and returns to schools and be educated to champion their future progress and development.

The Photograph above, shows Agnes and Mariatu watching, two of the beneficiaries, thanking donors and the Global Giving team for their humanitarian support provided. 

Prepared and submitted by: Kaprie J G Thoronka