By Aminata Phidelia Allie
A charitable organization that seeks to empower unfortunate teenage mothers by way of educating them has been launched in Freetown, after it was first established in more than five districts since early last year.
Speaking at the official launch of the PeagieWoobay Scholarship Fund in Freetown, founder of the organization, Peagie Foday, (nee Woobay), said her dream was to make a change in the lives of as many young girls as possible through education.
She said she was convinced that most teenagers who got pregnant were not supported and loved by their families and societies.She expressed hope that underprivileged girl child in Sierra Leone would be assisted through education that would help them unleash their potential in society.
Woobay said she developed the passion to empower young girls who got pregnant and had no support to make them succeed. She said she got pregnant at age 15 “but I was supported by my family members. So I got a second chance which is why I am what I am today”.
Telling her story, she emphasized the need for girls to be taught sex education, which she said she lacked. “That was why so I got pregnant”. She said it was important for parents to give girls a second chance “so that they do not fall out of the system completely”.
Woobay revealed that the organization already has about 63 beneficiaries across the country with day-care centers in Kabala and Moyamba “where teenage pregnancy is highest”.
Former vice president, Solomon Berewa, expressed disappointment in parents who felt that girls could do what boys could do, adding that presently women were being appointed to higher positions in governance.
He called on government to institute stronger laws against sexual harassment of young girls and to create the enabling environment for underprivileged girls to succeed.
Officially launching the fund the national Coordinator for the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy in the ministry of health and sanitation, Patricia Bah, observed that teenage pregnancy and girls’ drop-out did not only affect families but also could affect the nation as a whole.
She promised her ministry’s commitment to such a fight and expressed hope that the education and the social welfare and gender ministries would come on board.
(C) Politico 16/01/14
