INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD: CAGEAD LEADS CELEBRATIONS IN BAMENDA

Family photo

11th of October each year is comemorated as the International day of the girl child, a day set aside by the United nations to promote the empowerment and the rights of young girls across the globe. 

Inline with this year's edition of the International day of the girl child, the Center for Advocacy in Gender Equality and Action for Development, CAGEAD in Collaboration with 10 other organizations who are actively involve in the protection the of young girls, on Sunday October 11, 2020 brought together a good number of adulecent girls in Bamenda to help amplify their voices in all decision making  processes in the the society.

Team orange

Team Green 

Some old tradition games, such as Tug of war, bag race, egg race amongst others characterize the celebrations as the girls reflected on how life used to be before now.

Coordinator CAGEAD

"We are celebrating the girl child this day in Bamenda from a special angle, given that we are dealing with adulecent girls who have lived through the crisis in the Region for 4 years now, we are celebrating their resilience, their tolerance and we are celebrating the fact that they have taken control of themselves and they are still alive. The theme this year is "my voice, our equal future" this is a reminder that the young girls have the right to mainstream their voices in all matters that concern their lives. We are using this opportunity to call on parents to give this girls equal opportunity to be able to add their voices to the decision that are taken in their own homes, communities right up to the national level" .Said Waah Clotilda Coordinator of CAGEAD

Representatives from the partner organizations (CAWAS, ASOWWIP,  ASWEDO, SIWOG, WOINDIV, RUGBWA, HOFNA, SWO, HEDECS, Mother Earth's Future in our Hand)  each took turn to inspire and encourage the girls as they prepare walk towards their future.

The girls being encouraged to focus on their future. 

"I am very pleased to be part of this year's celebrations of the international day of the girl child, under the theme My voice, our equal future, this tells my that I can input my voice to my future given that we have been in a society where girls have little or no say about their future, this theme is to encourage me that I have a say in my future" Brandy one of the the girls.

Brandy leading one of the games

This year's edition of the International day of the girl child is being comorated atmidst the crisis in the North West and South West Regions where thousands of young girls have been deprived from the right of education, others are being kidnapped, rape and some killed. 

The voice of the girl child is certainly crying out for Peace to return in the North West and South West Regions so that her future will be secure.

By Arnaud Kouamo