By Ragan M Conteh
ActionAid Sierra Leone has done a symbolic distribution of startup kits and learning materials to adolescent school girls in Bo district.
The distribution includes both out of schools and in-school children in Bo district.
The sharing of the materials was done on Friday 17 May 2024 at the Agricultural Vocational Secondary School (AVSS) at Jerihun town in Bo district.
Giving the overview of the project, ActionAid Project Manager, Arun Papay Conteh said the project started in 2021.
He informed Africa 24 that the project targeted five communities in Bo district and three communities in the Western Area.
He said that as an organization they are supporting 460 girls and out of this number the organization has distributed learning materials to 200 girls so far.
According to the Project Manager his organization has also been supporting 120 girls who have become school drop outs in Bo and in Western Area districts.
ActionAid has also enrolled girls at a skills training centre to do tailoring, hair dressing and among many other vocational disciplines.
ActionAid has also supported 150 children in Freetown and 150 in Bo district with kits.
The project manager underscored the several support and community engagement they have done to ensure that girls are protected and enrolled in schools.
In his statement, the Paramount Chief of Baoma Chiefdom in Bo district, Chief Alfred Hindowa Demby V said, ActionAid is one of the most credible organizations in the country.
He expressed his appreciation to Actionaid for their unflinching support especially on gender its empowerment drive.
He said the items are provided for girls to empower themselves, their families and so he urged the women to use the items for good.
He said ActionAid is a ‘talk and do’ organization that is geared towards empowering the marginalized girls in the country.
The Executive Director of ActionAid Sierra Leone, Foday-Bassie Swaray says the opportunity is the second chance for the girls and it is prudent if they take it seriously.
Mr Swaray said the current strategies of his organization focus on deliberate actions to empower mostly adolescent girls.
He said when helped, the girls would empower themselves and would protect themselves from all forms of sexual violence.
He maintained that the organization has enrolled a total of about 200 into the school system, and they are supporting the second batch of about 120 in Bo and Western Area districts.
Director Swaray said last year his organization supported 300 girls with kits and this year it was increased to 600 girls with 300 in Bo district and 300 in Western Area district.
He admonished parents to take up the responsibility and ownership of the project.
The Director of NGOs’ affairs in the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Eric Masalay, in his keynote statement, said ActionAid has always been complementing government priority areas.
He further said last year ActionAid Sierra Leone distributed some start-up kits to many girls.
And this year again the organization has extended their support to other group of girls.
He revealed that girls should use the materials to empower themselves and make good use of the opportunity given to them.
He maintained that the drive of ActionAid is an action to empower the marginalized girls.
He said it is part of President Bio gender empowerment policy.
He urged the adolescent girls to make Actionaid their community helper and he said the government and Sierra Leone are proud of them work.
“ActionAid wants sustainability in their drive so as beneficiaries make good use of this gesture,” he said.
In her statement, the Education Officer in the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, Princess H Conteh said ActionAid generosity makes the organization to be one of the best in terms of promoting the work of government and by extension the Ministry of Education.
She informed the gathering that the Ministry of Education is very pleased with the opportunity which is aimed at empowering the vulnerable t girls in the country.
She, therefore, urged the girls to grab the opportunity and use the items for their intended purpose.
In her testimony, Princess Jabaty, who has graduated from ActionAid Sierra Leone from the tailoring department said she dropped out of school but now she is a proud beneficiary of the organization’s generosity.
She vowed to utilize his profession judiciously.
Another beneficiary Isatu Jalloh also thanked ActionAid for the unflinching support and promised to transform herself having helped by ActionAid empowerment project.