The month of March is a highly significant
month for women the world over. It was no coincidence that we chose the 1st of
March as the day to hold the first ever community based public lecture in
Ajegunle, one of the impoverished communities I work with across Lagos.
The public lecture tagged: Women: The Future had young passionate speakers who talked with the group on issues relating to sex and
teenage pregnancy, setting long and short term goals, knowing our true values as women, knowing our
priorities and having positive role models to emulate.
Vera Edore with some of the young women |
Vera Edore (Barr), the co- initiator of The Wilona Foundation (TWF) had a question and answer session with the girls, some of the
issues raised were: future plans, career goals and mentoring.
Mr Olusola Samuel, a health expert from
Hacy Health Initiative and a campaigner for Hands Up for Her - a project that
seeks to bring an end to violence against the girl child, talked about teen
pregnancy, its effect on the teenage mother and child.
High point of his lecture were topics like:
depression, pelvic inflammatory diseases, STIs and HIV/AIDS, urinary
incontinence, urinary tract infections and how common they are with teenage
mothers.
Blessing Ashi delivering her lecture |
Ms Blessing Ashi, a life coach and a peer
educator with PRAWA who is very passionate about women empowerment talked on
the importance of having positive role models as teenage women.
Some of the Sheros she introduced to us
were: Blessing Liman, Tayosi Akerele, Okonjo Iweala, Rukuyatu Amhed Rufai,
Ibukun Awosika, Evelyn Oputu, Saheela Ibrahim and other notable Nigerian women
who excelled in their various careers.
She went on to introduce the acronym- MAD;
"Make A Difference" to us.
Becky Oladimeji Thrilling us all |
Ms Becky Oladimeji, a woman created to make
a positive impact by raising a 'pure and undefiled' generation of teens, a peer
educator with PRAWA, motivator & facilitator spoke about knowing our priorities and
freeing ourselves from all forms of distractions including, unplanned and
teenage pregnancy, being involved in romantic relationships before we are ready
to bear the responsibilities that may come with it.
Chinomso Josiah had our attention |
Mr Chinomso Josiah, a volunteer peer
educator with PRAWA talked about finding and understanding our purpose on earth
and doing our utmost not to derail from our path to success.
Raquel Jacobs telling her story |
Lastly, Ms Raquel Jacobs, the Initiator of
"Beyond the Classroom Foundation" and an alumna of the
prestigious Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI) thrilled all in
attendance with the Kenyan dance.
She went on to talk about her experience as
an orphan, her struggle through adolescence and how she achieved her dreams by
being focused on her goals, by having positive role models and by remaining
determined to succeed no matter what.
Her final words were: remain focused, keep
your eyes on the prize and take your education very seriously!
we ended with the 'Kenyan dance' |
When youths talk to youths on issues that concerns youths, youths listen!
Splendid Vweta...God bless you real good.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
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