Picture: (Young girls with their mentors at Boo-Rachwene Early Development Centre during workshop)

Empowering young girls remain a fundamental matter within society, says Boo Rachwene Early Development Centre founder, Thunyelwa Rachwene. She hosted a girl child development workshop at Phola village in Mahikeng on Wednesday to celebrate Women’s Day.

“It is very important to empower and develop girl children. We need to educate them how to conduct themselves in public. We engaged with more than 30 girls from various schools and shared ideas. We also brought women who made their mark to come and share their experiences.

“We touched many socio-economic issues from women and children abuse, teenage pregnancy, poverty, crime, drugs and alcohol abuse. There is this trend called Blessers too that we tackled. According to statistics, young girls from the age of 16 to 24 continue to be infected with HIV and Aids pandemic,” Rachwene said.

 She also added that most girls said they do not have anyone to talk to if they encounter challenges. Rachwene further said parents also need to play a pivotal role in making sure girl children are monitored and taken care of.

“We know that during adolescent stage is the most difficult phase in a teenager’s life. As mother, we need to be part of that process and guide them. The girls will want to experience other things like engaging into sexual intercourse. However, without guidance, they bound to commit mistakes.

“We also educate them to be more independent and the importance of education. The empowerment of marginalised women and girls in South Africa develop a sustainable solution,” she said.

Film and TV personality, Kgomotso Ditshwene said it was very important to engage with young girls. She said women are the torch-bearer and guide men to the betterment of life.

“Life skills are imperative and it was breathtaking meeting with these young girls. Gender inequality and disempowerment is an insidious impact on their ability to engage in education and make good decisions about their reproductive health.

“I got pregnant at the younger age and sharing my trials and tribulations will assist them. We need to empower each other as women and ensure prosperity amongst us. Woman is a very powerful person, however we also need to each with young boys to teach them how to treat a woman,” Ditshwene said.

A 16 year-old girl from Living Faith Combined School, Tshegofatso Leeba said: “I feel workshops like these could be constantly being there. I have learnt a lot and now will make decisions with open mind. I learnt that a woman is a precious gift and need to be celebrated.”

Another girl, Kegomoditswe Marungo, 15 shared the same sentiments. Marungo said listening to adults will bring the world of good.

Source: http://www.thenewage.co.za

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