National Post (National Edition)
Global panel addresses barriers to education for girls in sub Saharan Africa amid COVID-19
An upcoming virtual event co-presented by Children Believe and the Graça Machel Trust will explore the complexities of overcoming barriers to education faced by girls in sub-Saharan Africa, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We believe education is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world,” says Children Believe CEO Fred Witteveen. “When you give children, particularly girls, an education, their world opens up.”
The webinar, which takes place Feb. 10 as part of International Development Week, invites the public to hear from Children Believe's partners in Africa, including African stateswoman and advocate Graça Machel. Joined by Government of Canada representatives, the panelists will speak about the need for continued investment in education initiatives for girls, particularly during the pandemic.
“The panel is a great opportunity to create deeper connections with our partners and stakeholders,” says Witteveen. “It will help us inspire each other to go further than we have before.”
The event reflects Children Believe's mission to help vulnerable children achieve their educational goals by promoting access to equitable, high-quality education. Millions of children in Africa are experiencing conflict, displacement, and income inequality, making it incredibly difficult for them to attend school and access much needed educational opportunities. Facing gender bias and discriminatory social norms, girls have been disproportionately affected by this issue, with 54 per cent of girls not in school in these communities.
“One of the most important steps is creating access to education inside and outside the classroom,” says Witteveen about addressing these challenges.
COVID-19 has only deepened the structural inequalities that prevent girls from accessing education, which can have long-term consequences on their lives and their communities. In fact, the pandemic has created what Children Believe calls “an education emergency,” where young people, particularly girls, are forced to stay at home and as a result, are at a higher risk of experiencing violence and unsafe living situations.
Witteveen notes that the pandemic has also raised additional challenges for these communities, such as ensuring schools have proper water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies, as well as training for teachers. There is also a need for increased access to technology and digital tools to create a safe, inclusive learning environment.
“One of the biggest challenges is to address how we integrate technology in the classroom, particularly when girls can't go to school in person,” he notes. “Technology-related learning is really key, and we need to bridge that gap so girls in these communities are able to learn.”
As a global organization, Children Believe hopes the panel will strengthen their relationships with partners in Africa and provide a platform for sharing ideas and experiences to increase impact during the pandemic. Witteveen is particularly excited to connect with African stakeholders on the panel and to partner with the Graça Machel Trust. The pan-African advocacy organization was founded in 2010 to amplify women's movements by harnessing their contributions to the economic, social, and political development of Africa.
“The panel is really a space for us to ask our partners, what have they learned?” he says. “What have their experiences been in overcoming barriers to education in these regions?”
Through collaboration with panel members, actionable solutions will be explored, along with the investment and resources needed to continue this important initiative. It will also highlight the work Children Believe is currently doing to address this persistent issue. This includes collaborating with 19 local partners and supporting 131 vulnerable communities in Africa to increase access to inclusive and quality education for over 400,000 girls and boys.
Witteveen sees the panel as a call to action to expand Children Believe's mission and spotlight the need for increased investment in the safety of schools for girls in these communities. In light of the pandemic, the organization has repurposed their financial resources and invested more than $14.5 million CAD to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as to provide critical support for their initiatives in Africa. But he knows there is more work to be done and he hopes the webinar will encourage wider participation and engagement from stakeholders to address the education emergency happening in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Nobody can solve this issue on their own,” Witteveen says. “We need to get better at working together. The panel will give us more opportunities to collaborate and learn from one another so we can all support girls in these communities and help them unleash their potential through education.” For more information about the panel, or to register to attend virtually on Feb. 10 via Zoom, please visit bit.ly/36eAboZ. Children Believe will also live stream the panel on their
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