Kansanshi empowers school girls

FIRST uantum Minerals (F M)’s Kansanshi Mining has embarked on an education campaign dubbed Books Before Boys (BBBs)’ in schools it supports within its catchment area. The objective of the campaign is to enhance girl child empowerment and provide a uniform platform through which all schools can have similar tools for programme implementation. FQM Health Promotions Advisor, Gertrude Musunka, said the campaign would also encourage girls to concentrate on books and stay away from boys so that they could make headway in their education. Ms Musunka was speaking during the launch of the campaign in Solwezi. She said the value of education for both girls and boys at household and community levels needed to increase and be visible. ‘’We would like to see more boys and girls from local communities get a good education and enter not only the Kansanshi market place but nationally and internationally. This is doable with concerted efforts from all stakeholders,’’ Ms Musunka said. She encouraged schools within the mine’s catchment area to form BBBs clubs for sustainability and increased outreach to the girls. Ms Musunka said that with the formation of the clubs in the schools, a permanent and uniform platform and resources would be available for the girls. ‘’It is our hope that this will be a conduit for all stakeholders will use this campaign to address the challenges of school drop-out, teen and early marriages and sexually transmitted infections,’’ she added. And Solwezi District Commissioner, Rosemary Kamalonga, said Government was happy to be part of the campaign because it was another greatest effort to ensure that a good number of children stay in school. Ms Kamalonga advised parents and guardians to encourage their children to go to school and not marry them off at a tender age.