Celebrating International Day of the Girl Together
By Annabel Mumba
Annabel Mumba is AEP’s Donor Relations Coordinator in Zambia. She is a Scholarship Fund recipient, high school graduate, and one of our latest Success Stories. Today, she interviews our AYC staff and students on what celebrating the International Day of the Girl looks like to them.
Every year on the 11th of October the world celebrates the International Day of the Girl. This day was meant to boldly voice out against discrimination, violence and poor learning for the girl child. This year, under the theme, “My Voice, Our Equal Future”, let’s seize the opportunity to be inspired by what adolescent girls see as the change they want, the solutions - big and small- they are leading and demanding across the globe.
“Worldwide, nearly 1 in 4 girls aged 15–19 years is neither employed nor in education or training compared to 1 in 10 boys of the same age. By 2021 around 435 million women and girls will be living on less than $1.90 a day — including 47 million pushed into poverty as a result of COVID-19.”
The African Education Program currently has 145 girls under sponsorship at their educational resource center, the Amos Youth Centre, in Kafue this year. The majority of these young women are in secondary school and a number of them attend college or university. The young women and girls in our program come from communities where most of their peers have dropped out of school because of teenage pregnancies, early marriages and a lack of support from their families. When the centre realised early on how all of these issues were affecting the girls, they decided to come up with different programs to help them learn about their rights and to be equipped with the right information about reproductive and health issues, elimination of gender discrimination and violence and educational opportunities to lead them to be catalysts of change. One of the programs established was the Girls Club, One Up for Girl Power, which was formed in 2016 by Lumuno Chongo, AYC’s Programs Director who also holds a degree in social work.
“Every year the number of girls dropping out of school is higher than that of boys in our community because girls face challenges such as early marriages. One Up for Girl Power was formed to give girls a voice and a stand, letting her discover her strength and capabilities. Ensuring she understands that she is not only a girl but a decision maker in the community.”
-Lumuno Chongo, AYC Programs Director
When this club was formed many girls were excited beyond words, one student called it “a safe haven” for the girls to simply be free and talk about issues that were close to them. So today we want to share their voices and let them be heard. And we hope this inspires you to find your voice and join us in this collective effort to empower our young women and girls together.
Cynthia, age 23:
“Growing up at home were you are the only girl was tough because I would be required to do chores instead of studying and it was hard because I was drawn back in school. The introduction of a girl’s club at the centre was exciting for me. Through it I learnt about menstrual health and was also provided with sanitary pads every month. I loved it and love it!!”
—Cynthia is an AEP beneficiary and a third year student at the University of Zambia.
Shylet, age 18
“My favourite clubs at the centre are One Up for Girl Power and the Leadership Club because I get to learn a lot!! Through the Girls Club, I was able to build my confidence. The Leadership Club teaches me all about leadership skills and qualities.”
—Shylet, is an AEP beneficiary and a 12th grade student at Naboye Secondary School.
Annabel, age 21
“Every girl deserves a chance to be the best version of themselves. The only one between you and your dreams is YOU!!”
—Annabel is an AEP beneficiary and high school graduate who will continue her post-secondary education while serving as AYC’s Donor Relations Coordinator.
The Amos Youth Centre also formed the Leadership Club. The purpose of this club was to help all of the girls and boys learn to work well with others and learn how to make a change in the community through volunteerism and community service. This club lifts up our young women and girls and helps them realize and understand that they, too, can be leaders and changemakers in their communities.
Happy International Day of the Girl to everyone and let your voice be heard!