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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Jan 2006 : 22:25:00
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"If you educate a man you educate an individual.
But if you educate a woman you educate a nation." Patrice Lummba.
Does this statement have any relevance in Gambia (Africa)today? If so what more can be done to empower women as the mother's of the nation?
Should Gambian girls'education really stop if she gets pregnant? Why do the father's seem to get off without such sanctions? How can these young mother's be given a second chance to be educated and support their children Or isn't Gambia ready to admit this taboo the challenge of unmarried mothers needs to recognised by society and not blamed on young girls -is this a double standard in society?
These are a few questions which spring to mind, but I'm sure many of you have ideas to bring to the debate. I look forward to hearing them.
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 00:13:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Sister Omega
"If you educate a man you educate an individual.
But if you educate a woman you educate a nation." Patrice Lummba.
Does this statement have any relevance in Gambia (Africa)today? If so what more can be done to empower women as the mother's of the nation?
Should Gambian girls'education really stop if she gets pregnant? Why do the father's seem to get off without such sanctions? How can these young mother's be given a second chance to be educated and support their children
Sister Omega, Yes the statement has relevance in Gambia.
Men who impregnate young school girls should be held responsible and punished. They should also take the responsibility of paying monthly or yearly allowances to both the child and mother. I believe girls should be given oppoturnity to continue their education after child birth and the man should pay the expensis of her continued school.
I think the Social Welfare Department in Banjul in some instances ask fathers to pay allowances but I doubt if many women in the up-country know about this right. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 01:12:26
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Momodou, I think your suggestion is a good idea about making the father's take responsibility, especially where it affects them most in their pocket! I think it's about time that men also get a wake up call and realise the consequences of their actions. It isn't fair to make girl's scapegoats and put them at an economic disadvantage as well. The responsibility lies with both parents to raise their child/children. I think the Social Welfare Department in Banjul has adopted the right attitude and this is something i'd like to see adopted nationwide, and it would be a good export model for many countries in the world to adopt.
Although the status Quo in many countries including Gambia is for children to be ideally born into wedlock. This as we all know is not always the case and children born outside of marriage or parents are divorced still need to be supported by both parents.
More complication set in when talking about sex is regarded as taboo. And the age of consent is not clear because young teenage still can be married traditionally. There seems to be some ambiguity here. On one hand girl's are being encouraged to go to school and on the other young girl's still get married off to old men. The case of KSS school where teenage girls in year 11 couldn't sit there exams because they were pregnant was a harsh punishment for them.I am sure with a bit of imagination the girl's could of taken their exams separately if need be. Instead of resigning them meterophically speaking "to at a foot of mountain with a long hard road to reach its summit when they were so close.
Their parents were heartbroken and blamed the school authorities for not having adequate supervision in place for their daughters evening classes which they thought created the circumstances for their daughters pregnancies. Better sex education might of prevented these girls from becoming pregnant. However hindsight is no comfort for these particular female students or others who now face the challenge of raising their children as lone parents, coupled with the stigma of bringing shame on their families. Whilst the fathers are given a pat on the back for sewing wild oats without paying any consequences for their actions. As abstinance or wearing a condom would of saved a lot of grief. Yet being philosophical "no one is responsible for the way in which they entered the world for all children are a blessing." So regardless of societies dictates on the ideal situation for conception these children need to be supported, and young teenage mothers need to be empowered through access to continuing their education for the benefit of themselves and their children. For education is a life-long process.
Under these circumstance very few of their peers would find this a trend to follow if they could see how hard it is for young mothers having to take care of a child and study at the same time. Or fathers having to pay child support or face severe financial penalities. I think some how the condom would become more appealing because it's a less expensive option or abstinance would be more fashionable. What do you think ?
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 01:26:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Sister Omega
The case of KSS school where teenage girls in year 11 couldn't sit there exams because they were pregnant was a harsh punishment for them.I am sure with a bit of imagination the girl's could of taken their exams separately if need be. Instead of resigning them meterophically speaking "to at a foot of mountain with a long hard road to reach its summit when they were so close.
Their parents were heartbroken and blamed the school authorities for not having adequate supervision in place for their daughters evening classes which they thought created the circumstances for their daughters pregnancies.
Sister Omega, I made and enquiry about those teachers last year from KUBS and was informed that they were all transferred to other schools. They were never punished for their crime for unlawfully having the school girls take a mass pregnancy test without the consent of the parents. I think I recently read a similar story of school girl pregnancy by a teacher or teachers of KSSS.
Free distribution of condoms in a predominantly Muslim society can be seen as an encouragement to have sex outside marriage but its a good preventive measure to un-wanted pregnancy, at the same time protection against STD.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 02:19:51
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Yes Mommodou I recall reading the same article about KUBS and KSSS. But I wasn't sure whether or not teachers were again responsible. If this is the case than by right they should be sacked for misconduct and forbidden to teach again, this would be a good deterient.
I'm aware of the sensitivity of free distribution of condoms in a muslim society causes and the pressures which are applied to workers in field. I suppose that's where other agencies come into play. I think there needs to be a tandem approach because of STD's and with AIDS/HIV more sensitization needs to occur. If we take Zambia a predominately non-muslim country or Swaziland in Southern Africa. The same taboo's exist so maybe it's not just an Islamic thing but an African thing- jest aside these are the issues which today's generations have to face. The Pre AIDS/HIV days are gone. Momdou can you imagine on Gambian TV a split screen one a cemetery of people being buried and the other a packet of condoms. With a caption say condoms are so easy to apply, why do you choose to die? (copyight 2006 )Surely that can't be seen as a haram.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 08:59:28
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In uk there is a big teenage pregnancy problem. Even though we have lots of contraception widely available! For many young girls it is almost a career option because they get benefits which often include a flat..so they can get away from home. Long term she is often trapped into a life of relying on benefits and therefore being relatively poor. All this decided at a very young age.
In Gambia I have met families where young girls have had babies and the family seems to rally round and support them. What happens if the girls are rejected by strict families? So do you have back street abortions in the same way we did in uk until 1970s? Are there legal abortions in Gambia?
In Uk it is like the Gambia that the girl is left holding the baby!!
This is life the world over.
I do think if a teacher has sex with a pupil that is an abuse of power and a very inappropriate relationship. They definately should not teach ever again. If the girl is very young and the man has done it more than once I think he should be imprisioned too.
Perhaps Gambia SHOULD have an age of consent. Of course it will be broken, but it is a guide line that most would follow. In the uk it is 16. That seems about right. Personally I would say 18.....ie when you can vote, drink then you can have sex.....all part of being adult and not a child. 18 could be a real right of passage. In uk they are trying to get the legal age for smoking raised to 18......why not sex too?
All these thiings are adult thngs that belong to an adult world. Oh dear I sound VERY oldfashioned!!!  |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 11:44:41
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Here you go again Bev stereotyping people again!!
As a African woman born of a teenage mother who is a career woman.I also was a teenage mother myself of three daughters all by the same father. I raised my children alone and continued my education. I have a Degree in Geography and run my own business. My daughters are all grown up and all of them have and are attending university themselves. One of my daughter's made me a grandmother last month at the age of 21.
All of my five children have been taught to break stereotypes. In my case when I talk about empowerment of African women who have children at a young age. I am speaking from experience of having done it myself.And I know that education is key to self empowerment. I'd like the same opportunities extended to my soul sisters in Gambia. So that they can unleash their talents and become productive members of society.
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 12:00:05
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| You are the exception to the rule, sadly. Generally speaking having children at a young age makes life much more difficult and I wouldnt wish it on anyone. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 12:11:09
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Sister Omega, I think we are really on the same side here.....
I believe in education and believe in the equality of women with men. I believe in complete equality of opportunity and choices in life.
I do , however, think that children are best raised by BOTH parents. I think fathers have an important role in the raising of children too. I think children having children is not a good thing.
So my first emphasis would always be to educated to avoid having babies too young...... abstinance and if not contraception.......
Also I would encourage people to be living with a stable partner, preferably within marriage before producing babies.
I had my 2 children in my late 20s..that was right for me....it is a personal choice. I wanted to have my education first, get married and then have my family.
Once again I realise I am sounding horribly old fashioned! |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 12:17:18
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Bev I agree with you that it is a hard road to travel but it is not the end of the road. I am not advocating for teenager girls to get pregnant. What I am saying is when given the opportunity they can make a decent life for themselves and their children. Therefore instead of marginalising them they should be given the opportunity to continue their education so that they can contribute to society. In an ideal world all children should have the opportunity to brought up by two loving parents with in the scantity of marriage but alias this is not the situation for many people around the world.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 12:25:07
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SO we agree.....
The question is how to make sure they still get an education..especially in rural areas. Perhaps a tutor could go to teach them at the local health centre when they go for checks????
They could set homework etc...... loan out books......
Then go back to school for exams......
Just a thought.
The midwives I have met seem really nice people perhaps they could be involved somehow ???? |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 12:55:48
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With the consent of their parents this seems like a workable solution.
Gambiabev you got me thinking has there been any sociological studies evaluating the progress of teenage mothers 20 years later. To see how they have faired in the UK? That would be interesting to find out. Anyway I digress .
I'd also like to hear some more contributions from others in regards to what we've been discussing on ways forward to support the empowerment of teenage mothers in Gambia within the cultural context of encouraging participation of such schemes. Please feel free to join in the debate.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 15:56:17
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| Sister Omega, did you see the report in today's Point Newspaper Online of 689 Gambian Girls getting a US Government Scholarship? This is one of the ways to empower our women and its a good initiative. Read the article at: http://www.thepoint.gm/headlines460.htm |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 17:06:02
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Hi Momodou,
What a way to go! This is definitely a step in the right direction for Gambia as a nation. At last Gambian girl's will be getting a piece of the pie of knowledge. Who knows amongst these 689 girl's may emerge the first Gambian Woman President!
The above is my inital response my only reservation is that our sister's might join the brain drain. Hopefully there will be measures in place to see they return to assist in progressing Gambia further down the road of liberation.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 17:19:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Sister Omega
Hi Momodou,
What a way to go! This is definitely a step in the right direction for Gambia as a nation. At last Gambian girl's will be getting a piece of the pie of knowledge. Who knows amongst these 689 girl's may emerge the first Gambian Woman President!
I hope we have a Woman President before their graduation |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2006 : 18:13:10
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| Me too! |
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