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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Jul 2007 : 11:55:19
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<Topic split from: http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4086 by Admin>
What you say about "drop out" boys is very concerning,is this a gender problem or are there "drop out" girls ? Most of the postings refelect the hopeless plight of "youths" I understand the word youth to mean a young man.Or is it something to do with culture in Gambia, females having their place as homemakers and mothers and there is always domestic work to be done.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2007 : 15:20:54
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| I think the girls are kept busy in the home, although there are some young prostitutes in senegambia. |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2007 : 20:58:56
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quote:
Originally posted by gambiabev
I think the girls are kept busy in the home, although there are some young prostitutes in senegambia.
In other words I am right, there are no "drop out" girls only boys. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2007 : 22:48:27
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| Toubab1020, it's rare for girls to drop out - even your president knows it. Did you read his 22nd July speech (in the Gambian politics forum)? Girls/women are more practical and often (not always!)more respectful towards the 'authorities'. Boys are often easily influenced by 'wrong friends'. Having some money to 'show off' is important to them. Once you lost them, it is difficult to get them back to school. Fortunately, some of them repent later, especially after they have found themselves a steady girlfriend. My evening classes are full of these repenters. When they are in their twenties they realize they need a diploma of some sorts. |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2007 : 23:21:05
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Thanks Anna,I don't have any interest in Politics,  only in their results, so I didn't read the piece,thanks for the clarification  |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2008 : 20:17:09
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| In uk, and Gambia will be the same, the girls without education and without ambition of a future career are the ones that fall into pregnancy or crime. To stop that happening the girls need to be given hope of a future career, some ambition and hope! Self esteem is a really important factor in cutting teenage pregnancy and alot of this comes from fathers. Dad needs to tell his daughter she is clever and capable and wonderful. Boys would be lucky to go out with you! I think daddy has a VERY important role in keeping his daughter on the straight and narrow. A young girl that feels loved, wont feel the need for going off searching for love elsewhere. |
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2008 : 21:34:03
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This is true in some respect but can also send a mixed message.
In the west emphasis is put on looks ... The right labels/Clothes the right hair styles weight etc. Why do you think saloons for children are springing up everywhere.
In order to be popular we have to fit into a certain perception.
In Gambia as been pointed out the emphasis is based on the home providing for the family unit and beyond.
These asperations for want of a better word serve to appease who???
Women need to understand that's is ok to find validation without a man.Why do we need a mans approval in order to gain self worth or self esteem.
Young girls get pregnant throughout the world and each one has a different story. Teen mums at a sure start project here in the UK expressed that they thought it would be 'cool' to have a baby or that their boyfriends wanted them to not one girl spoke of accidents etc these were all pre planned conceptions.
However in Gambia, my experiences have been different all too many 'didn't think they would get pregnant the first time' or 'didn't think at certain times of the month or in certain positions it would happen'. These were things that were believed by teens in the 1970s here.
Frustratingly (for me) yet despite these increases and misconceptions theres a barrage of resistance from educators and people in the field to educate these young women or children. I heard of a girl of 10 giving birth last year.
Some schools in Gambia are gently tackling the HIV epicdemic cautiously (I have some great poetry written by some children),but I do not think the message is getting through. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2008 : 21:58:21
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I have seen some great HIV education in Gambia at Kwinella high school. More explicit than in UK.
A 10 year old getting pregnant is a child protection issue in whatever country it is in. It is sad and shocking and totally unacceptable.
Personally in an ideal world I think people should try to concieve between 20 and 40. Before 20 is too young for most people to cope with the responsibility and after 40 the risk of genetic problems is increased.
Before 20 I think girls should be focusing on their own life..... a career, education, friends and fun!
After 40 I think women should be focusing on their partners and then on their children producing grand children. I can't wait to be Nana!!!!
Also after 40 the risk of giving birth to a child with problems is greatly increased. |
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2008 : 22:34:40
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Ive yet to experience a more explicit teaching method although the poems I was talking about were written by Grade 8 children so maybe that's why.
Your post did make me laugh Bev haven't you realised that 40 is the new 30 now more women are waiting (in the UK Canada and the US ) till their 40s to start a family.
As for focussing on their partners??? For what reason?
I don't think theres a perfect age to have a child start a family etc if we all waited for the perfect time many people would be childless.
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2008 : 00:15:18
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All this is very enlightning I am sure,its slightly off topic though (OK I know its been split off by Admin !)the main discussion centred around drugs and drop out youth. I posed the question about drop out girls, and there appeared to be a concensus of opinion that in general girls didn't drop out and take drugs as much as boys,there remains the central theme running through this discussion that there is very little hope of youths getting paid employment,boredom sets in nothing to do, I suspect the same for girls,so they follow their peers become pregnat and have a baby just like mum, someone to look after and cherish,I doubt that there are very many girls in Gambia who think, OK lets have a career or a well paid job, rather than a housewife sort of job (nothing wrong with housewives !)
It all comes down to one thing Education and a change in the way women are percieved in Gambia I think that if more women were in positions of real authority in the world there would be less violence and problems. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 24 Jul 2008 00:18:25 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2008 : 08:02:01
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I work with Special needs children and statistically many more of those children are born to older mothers. Over 40 many risks increase.
I suppose that colours my opinion.
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2008 : 12:17:02
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I couldn't agree more with you Toubab 1020 it is definitely attitude that is the dis-abling factor.
Whether this be at home or in the wider community. Ive struggled hard not to get offended, by the patronising attitudes I have come across during the many years of working there. This is more prominent in the Higher education sector than any where else (from people you think would know better!!).
Woman even those that are over quailified, struggle to find prominent positions in the education sector.The first point of call for these young women to see positive role models.
Bev I understand where your coming from, but in my last primary school both my Downs children where born to mothers under the age of 25. In the west now there is technology to provide early indicators enabling women (of a certain age ) to make informed choices. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2008 : 13:10:29
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drop out youth, interesting because i have seen a few drop out because the funds have not been there to take them to the next level of education, upto grade 9 the family just about manage but grade 10 upwards is hard going on families who do not have funds.
If there was less emphasis on getting "academic" and more on skills base that would help.
Access to internet/tv/radio is fueling the "I want one habit", the unemployed youths i see in the village accept it, because they can work the land, but the more built up areas it will get worse and not just senegambia regions, serrunkunda, birkama. |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2008 : 16:25:01
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quote:
Originally posted by jambo
drop out youth, interesting because i have seen a few drop out .
If there was less emphasis on getting "academic" and more on skills base that would help.
Access to internet/tv/radio is fueling the "I want one habit", the unemployed youths i see in the village accept it, because they can work the land, but the more built up areas it will get worse and not just senegambia regions, serrunkunda, birkama.
Quite so,work that was not paper shuffling where you had to have some skills was called having a trade,great carpenters,bricklayers,landscape gardners,roofers,plumbers,electricians,all are very necessary,but such a skills base is quite small within Gambians,due to lack of training,if Gambian youth had the will to be trained to work at these trades then the country would develop with their skills,I am sure that everyone has seen the very poor building work that has been done by unskilled Gambians 2 storie concrete houses lurching like the leaning tower of Piza in Italy.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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