Girl Power (or the lack of it)

I've just done an exercise that gives you the opportunity to make decisions as if you were a 16 year old girl, whether you male or female I suggest you click here to also do it before you read this blog.

I writing this blog because it hit me again, just how lucky I am. I am a woman living in a country where I have rights, where I can be independent. Where I have GIRL POWER!

I see myself as independent. I'm not fully, but my parents are supportive in my decisions. I know, whatever I decided to do, they won't stop me, they may try and talk me out of it, but they won't stop me. I know, they only want whats best for me.

My parents see education as a priority and have encouraged me to attend school, 6th form college and now Uni. But, for many children, especially girls, education isn't seen as a priority. As many parents in other countries don't have an education, they don't understand the advantages of their children having one.

So, many children, again especially girls, drop out of high school due to the long distances they have to walk.

They then go and work in the fields.

But, often after a year of working in the fields that parents have found someone for the girl to marry, either a boy the similar age - but can a 'marriage' between a 13 year old girl and a 14 year old boy really be called marriage? Or a man much older.
Why? The man has to pay a dowry for the girl, so the parents gain money and lose a mouth to feed.

Liz said despite it being illegal for a girl under 18 to marry, it is rare to discover an unmarried woman under the above the age of 18. However, they would wait until 18 until starting a family.

IF, however, the girl did end up staying on in high school. Many girls end up getting pregnant by their boyfriends, and end up disgraced back at their family home as the boyfriend might not marry them. In this case the girl and her unborn child is reliant on her families support.
Her prospect for marriage are slim, however a man may marry her as his second wife.

Like in the 'Girl power' scenario, marriage isn't an option, it was an expectation in the community we stayed in. However, unlike the scenario sexual education was available. One afternoon we went into the local primary school, so beforehand we asked to look at the textbooks they used. I was shocked at the level of sex ed the children were receiving at primary school. They were learning stuff that I was taught in years 7-9 at high school in primary 4-7, like contraceptive methods and where to get them from.
However, as my fellow team mates pointed out, it was important for them to learn it earlier on, partly because many might not reach high school but also because of  HIV/Aids and other STIs.

Sorry that this blog is quite similar to "Education is your life, guard it well" but, these issues hit me again hard and I wanted to blog about it.

Because I believe that Girl Power needs to be available to all.

Because I believe that girls need to have a voice.

Because I believe that girls shouldn't be sold into marriages or the sex trade.

"Education is your life, Guard it well" Proverbs 4:13

Like in the UK, education is compulsory and free in Uganda up until Senior 4. Unlike the UK, pupils have to pass the year until they can move up, so for example we knew of a 12 year old girl who was in primary 3, our year 2. It is also difficult to make sure that the children do attend school, especially in rural areas. So many children leave school after completing primary school.

The local Primary School

Why?

Whilst the education itself is free, many of the schools are a long walk from their homes so if the parents can't afford for their children to board they have to walk it. Where we were staying in Kaara, the local secondary school was about 6-7 km away. That's a 12-14 km walk each day, on top of which you have a days learning and potentially chores to do when you finally make it home.

It's no real surprise to discover that children, especially girls, decide an education isn't worth it.

So, any other problems the children face?

There were probably three other factor a child had to face to in an attempt to get an education:

1) tiredness - before arriving at school, a child would be expected to collect water for the family. That could mean several  trips down the valley to the local protected (clean/safe water) or unprotected spring. Along with two of my team mates we attempted this trip down and between us carried back 40L of water in two jerry cans. It was very hard work and took us about an hour. We couldn't imagine then going to school. The children would also collect water again after school or do other chores around the house, like farming or collecting firewood.

2) the teachers - what! The teachers?! But yes, in Uganda the teachers strike, A LOT. According to Liz, the Ugandan woman we lived with, the teachers would often strike for a month at a time in attempts to get higher wages, leaving the children education-less. At the primary school we were closest too, the teachers often didn't come in on a Friday as they lived a long way from the school. Again leaving the children on the own.

3) parents - as many of the children's parents didn't receive an  education they therefore don't see the point in the children also going to school. How many times in your school career did the encouraging word of a parent, or their assistance with homework help you?

Whilst some parents do understand the importance of education and support their children. If you'd been in the shoes of these Ugandan children, tired from collecting water and facing a long walk to school would you have bothered? I'm not sure I would have if my parents didn't encourage or realise the importance of me gain an education.