NAN-H-67
Adolescents
By Chioma Arazu and Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, Feb. 21, 2018 (NAN) The Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF), an NGO, says it aims to empower 100,000 adolescent girls in 2018, through its GOAL project.
Mrs Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, Executive Secretary of YEF, made the disclosure at a GOAL Project Stakeholders Meeting on Wednesday in Lagos.
According to Akin-Jimoh, GOAL, a project sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), is a girl empowerment project where girls are trained through life and vocational skills as well as in sports.
“SCB understands that women drive economic growth in their communities, by directly working with adolescent girls and enabling them to be change agents, we also impact their families and communities.
“GOAL was launched in 2006 as a pilot project in New Delhi, reaching 70 girls; GOAL Nigeria was launched in March 2010 in Lagos and in June 2010 in Abuja.
“It focuses on younger adolescents (11 to 16 years) with life, literacy, financial skills and football skills.
“We hope to reach out to 100,000 girls, directly and indirectly, through peer educators in 2018 in Nigeria. So far, we have reached over 50,000 girls,’’ she said.
“YEF is a school-based foundation to empower girls; we work through four modules: Be Yourself, Be Healthy, Be Empowered and Be Money Savvy.
“Be Healthy means educating the girls on Menstruation, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Abstinence and HIV/AIDS.
“Be Empowered will enable the girls have good academic excellence, time management, violence against child among others.
“Be Money Savvy will also impact the act of saving little funds from what you generate and Be Yourself means self-identity, communication, relationship and leadership with the community.
Akin-Jimoh said that females should be empowered because they are the home builders and vulnerable sex in the society.
She urged parents and teachers to draw girls closer for closer bonding and understanding.
“Show them love, care, attention and also take adequate notice of any changes in their body.
“Educate them on self-defence such as the use of taekwondo during violence,’’ Akin-Jimoh said.
Also, Mrs Tolu Osoba, Program Manager of YEF, said the foundation also had a programme where the girls were involved in Skills for Life project.
“Those in JSS3 are sent to acquire skills and job experience in vocational centres they intend to do it for a period of four weeks.
“Those who have graduated go for vocational skills acquisition where they learn skills, including tailoring, baking, beads-making, hairdressing and soap making among others for a period of six weeks,’’ Osoba said.
Mrs Oluwaseunfunmi Arasi, Monitory and Evaluation Officer in YEF, said that GOAL in Nigeria had reached over 11,000 girls directly or indirectly through interaction of the peer leaders with their friends.
According to her, the foundation has outlined programmes for 2018 which will include quiz competitions, football tournaments and seminars.
Mrs Oluwatoyin Odusote, a teacher at the Eric Moore Senior Secondary School, Surulere, commended the foundation for discovering the potential and adding value to the community.
According to her, the project has improved the academic excellence of the girls involved, as well as helped them to boost their confidence and character.
She urged parents to be involved and always show interest in the lives and activities of their children, especially the girls. (NAN)
CARA/VIV/PDE
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(Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Peter Ejiofor)