Orphaned Girls: NGO Floats School Fees Conditional Cash Transfer In Bauchi
…Sensitizes them on body safety
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – As part of its commitment towards ensuring that the girl child is not denied access to education, a Non-Governmental Ornaisation (NGO), on the aegis of ‘Nurture & Empower Her Initiative (NEHI)’ has floated a conditional cash transfer program to take care of the payment of school fees for female children particularly those orphaned.
NEHI said it is committed towards ensuring enaging and pushing the girls as well as making conditional cash transfer for those who cannot afford to pay school fees.
This was as NEHI on Saturday, organized a one day sensitization program for the girl child to create awareness on how she will take care of herself and be protected against any form of abuse and molestation.
The sensitization program tagged, ‘My body is my body’ was organized for over 70 girls of the BASOVCA Orphanage in Bauchi during which the girls were taught how to take good care of their sensitive body parts.
Executive Director of NEHI, Florence Uzoanya said that the organization is advertising for the right of the girl child as well as eradication of all forms of abuses and violence against the girls.
Uzoanya said; “We came here to teach the girls on body safety rules. We want them to know that their bodies are their bodies, nobody has the right to touch them, nobody has the right to hurt them, nobody has the right to touch their private parts.
“We are here to make them know all these and also to administer this through songs, because we believe that songs are the easiest way to preach to the children,” she said.
The NEHI Executive Director also said that the target of the organisation to ensure that it gets a minimum of 70 girl children that would benefit from relief and educational materials, sanitary materials, pants, vests and other writing materials.
According to her; “We know that it is not going to be easy, we are not expecting that it will be that easy considering the barriers of religion and culture but with God, it will be a success. We are well prepared and know that it will go down well.
“We have a lot of programme for the girl child in Bauchi state. We want to ensure that no girl is at home without going to school, we want to ensure that no girl is left behind.
“Christabe Nwosu in her presentation, taught the girls to always speak out if anyone touches their sensitive body parts, telling them that nobody has the right to touch them without their consent no matter who the person is.
She added that they should not be afraid to challenge anybody who wants to molest them encouraging them to immediately shout so that people around can come to their rescue.
As part of the demonstration, Uche Emmanuel took the girls through the sensitive parts of their bodies that are sacred that should not be touched by anyone.
Responding, the Head Mistress of the School within the Orphanage, Mairo Abubakar thanked NEHI for the sensitization of the girls saying that it was the first time such will take place.
Abubakar particularly thanked the Chairperson of BASOVCA, Yelwa Abubakar Tafawa Balewa for paying proper attention to the orphanage since she came on board, stressing that there is a significant improvement in the running of the home.
