Story By: Rahamatu-Lahi Zakaria || Sanatu Zambang
SWIDA-GH commemorated the International Day of the Girl Child at Malshegu community under the Sagnarigu municipality in the northern region on Monday, 11th October 2021 at the community square.
Day which was under the theme, ‘’Digital Generation, Our Generation’’ brought together, opinion leaders, parents, in and out of school children and staff of SWIDA-in GH to mark the day and look at the way forward in the advancement of girls rights and empowering them to be educated or learn a skill that will beneficial to the girls, their family and the community they reside in.
The stakeholder engagement with the community had both parents, girls and boys sharing their grievances and what they want to be done. One of the parents shared her views about the danger posed by phones. According to her, when parents deny their children of going out in the evening, boys call them using the phone which she believes is adding up to girls engaging in unhealthy behaviour that is not good for their wellbeing.
But the gender and communication officer for SWIDA-GH, Miss, Khadija Abdul Samed noted that phones are tools that can be used for both good and bad. Saying it depends on the person using it and encourages parents to find a way to work with children on how to use the phone productively.
The children contributions included pleading to parents to share responsibilities between boys and girls, defend the rights of girls, stop early child marriage and also prioritise the education of girls or giving them skills.
