By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Girls Education Mission (GEM) International on Monday 1st July 2024 hosted 50 girls, 31 parents and 32 stakeholders including Government representatives from Plateau State Universal Basic Education (PSUBEB), School Principals and Teachers, Community and Religious leaders for an advocacy session on Girls’ Education and Empowerment.
The programme tagged “I Am Possible” was a Girls Mentorship and Leadership 2024 held at GEM International Hub, Jos Nigeria as part of its #IamPossible Girls Mentorship and Leadership program,
The advocacy session marked the opening ceremony of a 5 days’ workshop for 50 girls of Junior Secondary school drawn for 6 Local Governments of Northern Zone of Plateau State whom GEM International paid their Junior Secondary Exams fee.
The session had successfully raised awareness about the importance of girls’ education and empowerment and explained the objectives of the project.
The Stakeholders had the opportunity to expressed commitment to ensure that objectives of the program are achieved by working collaboratively to ensure a supportive environment for the girls’ growth and development.
After the advocacy session, the girls continued a 5-days mentorship and Leadership workshop where they received training in a various of skills such as study techniques, personal leadership, menstrual hygiene and reproductive health, self-confidence, decision making, goal planning, income generation and financial management.
The program was designed to increase graduation rates among girls and equip them with skills, tools, resources, knowledge and `experiences they need to thrive in school and beyond and enable them serve as agent of change in their various communities.
The Executive Director of GEM International, Mrs. Keturah Shammah stated that the choice of using the Slogan #IamPossible is to foster self-awareness, self-confidence, self-esteem, resilience, and empowerment among adolescent girls who in most cases struggle with low self-esteem and self-condemnation that led to having their dreams cut short.”
Keturah Shammah added that, “The girls are expected to, having been empowered, serve as role models to other girls. They will receive continues support to be peer mentors and advocates for girls’ education in their schools and communities”.
The participating girls had the privilege of hearing inspiring stories from successful top-ranked women from various walks of life including in the military and the civil service who shared their journey to success, their challenges and how they overcame them.
The girls also engaged in an interactive Q&A session, seeking advice and insights from these women role models just as there was also a practical session to teach girls simple businesses they can do with no or little capital to earn an income without interrupting their education.
The 5 days’ workshop ended on the 5th of July which happened to be GEM International 13th year anniversary. And in commemoration of the anniversary, the girls reflected on their learnings from the previous days, and have their questions, and concerns addressed.
Girls who are fellows of GEM International’s various programs were also invited to share their journey of growth and development and gave words of inspiration and encouragement to the girls mentorship participants.
The program ended with everyone having fun through dance and various outdoor games with all the GEM staff including the PSUBEB personnel present. Free sanitary pad were also given to the girls.
The Director Special Program of Plateau SUBEB, Hajiya Zainab Zakari said, “As a government agency responsible in ensuring access to basic quality education, we are excited to have GEM complementing our effort by considering girls from our schools to benefit from the program”.
She further said “This program demonstrates GEM International’s commitment to ensuring access to quality education for girls by paying their exam fees and in some cases, their school fees and now providing mentoring support to them including giving them free sanitary pad”.
Sharing on the impact of the program, the Program Manager of GEM International who was a key facilitator during the workshop, Mrs. Itswell Victor stated: “We have seen an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence and an enhanced motivation to learning among the girls.”
She added that, “We have got the opportunity to take the girls through important session of Development of essential Leadership skills such as communication, Decision-making, teamwork, Self-awareness and knowledge about menstrual hygiene practices.”
“How to influence and inspire other girls positively leading to impact on their communities. We are making this investment in their education with hope it will have a lasting impact on their future,” She added.
According to her, “This initiative serves as a model for our future programs aimed at empowering young girls to become confident leaders and change-makers.”
Itswell Victor assured that ,”After these 5 days of workshop, the girls will receive ongoing mentorship support for 6 months where they will continue to have a monthly mentorship session with GEM where their progress will be monitored and will be provided additional resources including free monthly sanitary pads as needed for the girls to succeed in school and beyond.”
“I am Possible”, is a self-advocacy Girls Mentorship program of Girls Education Mission International aimed at increasing graduation rates among girls and equipping them with skills, tools, resources, knowledge and experience they need to thrive, and lead become change agent in their society.”
With support of Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund, Girls Education Mission International is addressing the girls education crisis in Nigeria where over 60% of girls are out of school, contributing to gender inequality and various social injustice.
GEM is making strides towards the Sustainable Development Goals 4, 5 and 8 by piloting the “I am Possible” program in the Northern Zone of Plateau State.
The programme is designed to directly impact 50 girls and indirectly benefit an additional 500 girls including 500 community members who are parents, community, religious and government, education leaders.
