As Liberia joined the rest of the world to observe the International Day of the Girls Child, the Youth Education and Humanity of Liberia (YEAH) also joined other organizations around the world to celebrate the international Day of the Girls Child.
The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) on December 11,2011 adopted resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as ” International Day of the Girls Child” which established a day to recognize girls’ rights and the challenges girls, young women and adolescents face around the world.
The observance of the day provide opportunity to girls and youths to assemble and discuss key issues affecting and identified several pathways to address those issues highlighted prioritized for the empowerment of young women and girls.
It is noted that young women and girls continue to face issues that poses threats to their health and well-being especially Sexual Gender-Based Violence(SGBV) and harmful practices which stigma and discriminate against them.
YEAH is nonprofit community based organization established in December 10, 2018 and also advocate for women’s rights as well as promote the rights of youth including young women in Liberia.
YEAH has benefited over 300 young women and youths through different empowerment programs in eight communities within Montserrado and Margibi Counties respectively.
Earlier, the Founder and Executive Director of Single Mother and Children Association(SMCA), Lena T. Cummings stressed the need for the Liberian Government to support young women and girls development through budgetary allotment in the national budget.
Madam Cummings stated that allotting budgetary support to organizations empowering young women and girls will go a long way to develop more Liberian Women potential in every sector of the growth and development of the country.
She noted that lack of support for young women and girls in Liberia has contributed significantly towards the abuse of more young women and girls sexually in several communities across the nation.
She explained that no nation can develop if half of the female youthful population are not given the chance to develop physically and mentally strong, but harassed sexually in their teen undermines the growth and development of the nation.
Madam Cummings maintained that the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy has affected the potential several Liberian girls over the years and affected their positive contribution to nation building.
She added that Liberia cannot afford to allow the continue abuse of young women and adolescents sexually which poses serious threats to national development.
She urged teenage girls to desist from early sexual activities to prevent unwanted pregnancy which has serious consequences in realizing their full potential in society.
Madam Cummings emphasized that young women and girls of Liberia should prioritized their education sojourn rather than engaging to early sexual activities.
She pinpointed that young Liberian Women and girls should strived to empower themselves through vocational skills such as baking, soap making among others to improve their status in the society.
The celebration which was held Monday on the theme”Digital Generation; Our Generation ” ” Bridging the Gaps; Pad a girls for modernization; Building Resilience against Gender Based Violence in a COVID-19 pandemic ” brought several young women and girls at the Shepherd Life Mission Church in Paynesville outside Monrovia.
