By Mabinty Kamara
The Forum of African Women Educationalists (FAWE) has announced an essay writing competition designed to showcase the impact of decades of efforts on the promotion of women's issues in Africa.
Anyone can submit an entry explaining their experience in promoting efforts in powering women and girls. Beneficiaries too are eligible to partake in the competition which is open to six of over 30 countries where FAWE operates.
Entries from beneficiaries can explain their experiences benefiting from support and how this may have impacted their lives.
FAWE is funding the competition in collaboration with the Association for the Development of Education in Africa.
“This competition is very important as we want to show case the impact that is being made by the society in the development of girls and women,” Theresa Nyallay, Project Manager, FAWE Sierra Leone, told Politico.
“A lot of efforts are being put into the development of girls and women but much has not been seen,” she said.
The competition is being held on the theme: ‘The most important change in the lives of girls and women’.
$1800 is up for grab as prize money for the top winner. The first runner up will get US$900$.
FAWE is a Pan-African non-governmental organisation with presence in
33 countries on the continent working on empowering women and girls, with particular focus on education.
In Sierra Leone the organization has 24 branches across the country. Other countries participating in the competition are Senegal, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Uganda.
The participating countries are limited because of insufficient funding available for the project, said Ms Nyallay, adding the plan was to extend participation in subsequent years.
People can send in their entries at any FAWE branch near them, she said.
“I hope Sierra Leone will win this competition” she noted.
The dead line for submission of entries is the 31st January 2016.
Nyallay said despite its hard work trying to empower women and girls, FAWE realizes that its efforts were been frustrated by the number of girls dropping out of school either because of teenage pregnancy or other factors.
“Some parents deliberately refused to send their girls to school instead they prefer giving them business to sell during school hours. And some [of the girls] who are in school are not doing well in school as some do go to school very late,” she said.
And she added: “Women empowerment can only be achieved when they have the ability to do that which the men can do.”
(C) Politico 13/01/16
