Mandinaba, Kombo East District, 11th October 2020: Child protection and empowerment organisation; The Rural Child (RC) has launched two new student empowerment initiatives as part of the 2020 celebration of international day of the girl child.
The launch of the organisation’s student mentorship and trust fund initiatives targets to empower students to have access to competitive opportunities that will inspire them to focus on their education and to participate in extracurricular activities.
The organisation celebrated the international day of the girl child at Mandinaba nursery school on Sunday under the global theme: My voice, our equal future.
On December 19, 2011, United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 declaring October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.
The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights. Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women.
Launching the student mentorship initiative, The RC programme and communication officer, Sulayman Darboe said the initiative seeks to empower rural children through the power of mentorship. “This will provide academic, psychological, moral and social support to rural children in order to smoothly follow their desired dream careers.”
He said they celebrate the day by engaging participants in tracing out common challenges that rural children face and how smoothly sustainable solutions could be carved out.
Coopted member, Lamin Trawally who launched the organisation’s Trust Fund said the initiative is designed to award rural students who make great academic achievements at the end of every academic year.
According to him, the purpose of the project is to encourage competition among students through hard work and dedication in their respective schools.
Coordinator of the organisation, Amadou Jallow, in his introductory and welcoming statement, thanke4d the participants for coming to celebrate the day with them and for witnessing the launch of their two initiatives.
He said the purpose of The RC celebrating international day of the girl child is to empower rural children and to discuss the challenges that the girl child faces on daily basis and how easily the challenges could be addressed.
Mr Jallow divulged on the numerous successes registered by the organization within a short time frame after its registration as a legal entity, including the facilitation of scholarship packages three of its child members.
He said through the scholarship packages that were secured through their partnership with American International University West Africa (AIUWA), Isatou Tamba will be studying at the university while the education expenses of Jainaba Jarju, a grade twelve student will be taking care of under the partnership and the re-admission of Aminata Danso to school after been dropped out for two years.
The treasurer, Angela Mendy, executive member Yusupha Bojang, parent Yaya Jambang and Sering Fatty all gave great advises and other valuable contribution aimed to equip the students to become better and more resourceful rural children.
About The Rural Child
The Rural Child [RC] is a community-based organization registered under the Companies Act of The Gambia. Its office is located in Mandinaba, Kombo East District, West Coast Region.
Through its motto: Empowering Rural Communities through Education, the organization targets to bridge the opportunity gap between urban and rural children and to empower children, youth and women. It seeks to provide opportunity to children to explore their talents in every field, by empowering and exposing them to issues that can inspire and motive them to positively focus into the future and become responsible adults.