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Teen
speaks out at launch of girls' education strategic plan in
Zimbabwe
UNICEF-Zimbabwe
October
18, 2006
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/zimbabwe_36309.html
The National
Girls Education Strategic Plan, launched in Harare, Zimbabwe,
aims to help achieve universal primary education and keep girls
in school. At the launch ceremony, Fransisca Nyabvure spoke on behalf
of the Girls Education Movement (GEM), an organization headed by
girls like herself to help empower their peers.
My name is Fransisca
Nyabvure I am 18 years old. I am doing my lower six at Darwin High
school, in northern Zimbabwe. I live with my grandparents. My parents
are dead.
In 2004, I was
lucky to be chosen to represent young people at a leadership conference
in Johannesburg. From the conference I discovered that a lot of
my friends were not assertive, they lacked confidence and in some
instances could not access education because they were girls. With
a few friends we decided to form the Girls Education Movement.
The movement
aims to help prevent child abuse [and] equip girls with life skills,
leadership and decision-making skills. More importantly, we talk
to parents and communities about the importance of keeping girls
in school.
Leadership
in schools
The
Girls Education Movement is a way of mobilizing girls and boys to
participate in the promotion of their education and development.
The word ‘GEM’ means a precious stone, so really you can say that
girls are precious stones.
At GEM clubs
we learn what leadership is. Girls are encouraged to speak out,
and venture into the world of sciences by participating in mathematics,
sciences and technology. We also learn about how to protect ourselves
from abuse and HIV. Over the past two years, GEM clubs have been
established in many schools, and I am very exhilarated to note a
change as many more girls have become committed to succeed in their
studies.
However, I am
in a sullen mood as the cases of ill-treatment of children by step-parents
are mushrooming daily. This has resulted in many students underperforming.
Cases of child abuse – especially sexual abuse by teachers – are
also increasing….
‘Start with
girls’
I
would like to inform the nation that the Girls Education Movement
will continue to hold dialogue with girls to assist them with life
skills. It will motivate them to excel in education until the sky
is their limit.
I would like
to express my gratitude to the Ministry of Education, UNICEF and
other non-governmental organizations for supporting this movement.
I am very exuberant with these educational movements.
Allow me to
pull down the curtains by the old saying, "If you need to save
trillions of dollars, begin by saving a cent." Or, put another
way, "If you want to develop your country, start with me –
start with girls.
And so I humbly
urge: Educate the whole world and begin with a girl child, because
when you educate the girl you have educated the whole nation.
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