Change makers'lab module 3: Origin of initiative

At a point I got overwhelmed by many things coupled with watching the videos at the lab, but I must say i find this particular module  interesting.  It has helped me  put into perspective just what this initiative is all about.  And how I must tell the story clearly and prompting people to action. From the break out session with Ruth on story telling, I decided to pen this down.

The origin of my Initiative Retaining Girls in school.

I am Jefiter Mang, from Nigeria. I grew up in a family of eleven. I am the second  amongst  nine children. There was never enough money to go round all the needs as far back as I can remember. Some one had to always forfeit something so others could have. Essentials were luxuries and privileges. I know what it means to be sent home from school because my fees have not been paid or resume school after others because of same. It was always a thing of shame and that affected my self esteem. I never wanted my children to go through what  I did.

Even as a kid I knew that the lack in my family was largely because we were so many. I recall wishing it was just me and one other of my siblings that were the children in the family, but because I loved every one of my siblings, I couldn't  wish any of them away. 

Having been displaced by Boko Haram insurgency  put me in a place of being needy. We ran for dear lives with my young family then with nothing and had to leave on the benevolence of friends and family.

With the good will we received we were able to start life again. That told me something, that people can be helped to find their feet  and that a little help can go a long way to make a great difference, which became my slogan.

It was while still being displaced that I began my work within my then neighborhood ,with two pregnant teenagers. They were pregnant mainly because they were not in school.  They were idle. Their case opened my eyes to the importance of education.

Getting an Education is what has helped me see the need to be a change maker. I have been able to tap the power within me to become power to others and with others.  I believe that any person, if given the least opportunity ( help) can become a catalyst for change. Today,I have a smaller family that I can cater for, within limits of our resources ,giving each one of us room to reach the zenith of our potentials.

Recently, World Bank gave statistics of poor people in  Nigeria  to have risen  to 95.1 million people. With patriarchal beliefs still around, many girls will be out of school because when a family is under pressure of  finances ,a girl will most likely be pulled out of school than a boy. When there are less funds for the family, a girl will drop out to raise income for the family or be married off to bring in money which promotes  child marriage.  And that can lead to gender based violence and complications for the child bride if she gets pregnant. 

The poverty problem becomes a vicious circle.

In austere times, sanitary products become a luxury out of reach, because food and other needs will be given priority. This keeps girls out of school.

Girls who are out of school  are vulnerable to child trafficking, sex trafficking. The vicious circle of poverty continues.

To make any meaningful change for a girl it must be on the platter of education else she will be caged where she should be soaring.

Education is power! If a girl gets an education, there is no limit to what she can do. She gets to know her rights and can demand them.

She  can take informed decisions about her body and her life.

Every year a girl stays on in school increases her chances of getting jobs with higher pays .

Every year she stays on in school delays child marriage.

Keeping a girl in school is fighting against gender based Violence, prostitution and child labor.

Today we have women who are leaders and drivers of change in different sectors. From them we can see that for there to be any meaningful progress in nation building, the  basic tool needs to be given to the girl child.

 My Initiative thus works to enroll and  retain girls who have never been in school and retain those who have dropped out and are at the brink of dropping out to complete secondary School because of lack of funds.

Also distribute sanitary products to keep girls who are missing out of school because of lack of menstrual sanitary products.

This initiative is also targeted at parents, community leaders, policy makers etc to create behavioural change towards the girl child, creating a safe space in homes and community where girls can thrive.

Outreaches to schools teaching girls on self esteem, menstrual health and hygiene.

Plans are on the way to add up training girls on how to make re-useable pads .

One girl left uneducated is a nation left in darkness. It's been proven over and over that girls who have had some form of education are more confident, enterprising , better leaders. 

You can be part of this initiative by partnering to finance this project by sponsoring a girl in school or paying for reusable pads.

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