By Aoma Keziah and Cynthia Masibo
The Regional Education Learning Initiative, Africa (RELI Africa), in partnership with JASLIKA, recently came together to co-host a 3 day significant convening focused on advancing girl’s education.
The event was held under the theme “From Data and Commitment to Action, Creating a Movement for Girls’ Education,” highlighting the crucial transition from gathering insights to implementing impactful initiatives. Commenting on the study findings, Dr Sheila Wamahiu, Jaslika Director and the lead author of the report, observed that
“In the 1990s, we in the girls education space, had a dream ,a dream we would be able to achieve gender equality in and through education way before now. But this dream remains unfulfilled for girls living in adversity in Our region. Many of the issues affecting girl’s education today are the same Issues that we talked about 30 years ago. The social media and the COVID-19 Pandemic has aggravated the problem they did not create them for girls Living in adversity patriarchy continues to intersect with poverty, the politics Of development and humanitarian crises to deprive girls of their right to be Children, to be curious, to play, to go to school, complete their education and Live quality lives” She noted.
RELI Africa and JASLIKA’s collaboration underscores the importance of collective efforts in addressing challenges and driving progress in girls’ education across the region. The convening also emphasized the transformative power of education in empowering girls, fostering gender equality, and building a more inclusive society.
Speaking at the event,Justice Njoki Ndugu representing Chief Justice Martha Koome delved into her admiration for RELI Africa indicating her willingness to be one of the members of the network. She also called upon Stakeholders to collaborate for the benefit of the girl child.
“It is true there is pushback on matters boy child and girl child. However, let us focus our energy on sorting issues facing these genders.”Added Njoki Ndugu
Over 100 stakeholders from Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya together explored actionable solutions to the persisting exclusion of children, especially girls living in adversity, from the mainstream of education in the East African region. The Conference amplified Southern Voices, providing space for conversations and actions to revitalise the movement of and for girl’s education.
The Participants also engaged in discussions centered on leveraging data and insights to develop targeted strategies that address barriers to girls’ education, including access, quality, and retention. Attendees, comprising educators, policymakers, advocates, and stakeholders, reaffirmed their commitment to taking concrete actions that promote and protect girls’ right to education.
The event aimed to catalyze a movement for girls’ education, encouraging ongoing collaboration, advocacy, and innovation in this critical area. The convening’s outcomes are expected to have a lasting impact, influencing policy agendas, resource allocation, and community engagement efforts geared towards improving girls’ educational opportunities. It sets the stage for continued collaboration and sustained action, driving positive change and creating a brighter future for girls across Africa.
RELI Africa and JASLIKA’s joint effort in hosting this convening signals a proactive approach towards addressing the challenges faced by girls in accessing quality education. By rallying stakeholders around a common cause, they pave the way for a stronger, more equitable education system that empowers girls and contributes to sustainable development.
JASLIKA is a global organisation promoting girls’ education and gender equality. With a strong focus on empowering girls and investing in education, it works in partnership with other multi Stakeholder partners to create change while RELI Africa is a not-for-profit regional non-governmental organization also a member-driven and peer learning initiative that brings together Over50 Civil Society Organizations from the East African region working on education with the main aim to enhance learning outcomes in education systems .
Mt Kenya Times