The Need for Extra curricular for School children

The students of some schools are far better than other schools . There might be many other reasons behind it , but the most important reason is ‘ the extra curricular activities ’ performed in schools .

For the all round development of a student only the course books and class room teaching are not enough . They must be involved in extra curricular activities. These may include games, quiz contests , spelling contests , dancing, singing , oratory contests , drawing, writing poems , stories , essays , etc.

Engaging students in games,  creative thinking and problems solving help them develop physically and other activities broaden their mind. Educating student doesn’t only mean to teach each and every line of textbooks and solve mathematical problems .

To educate means, to develop the inherent capacity of the students . For this purpose we should give them chances to take part in the activities of their interest . How can we find out which student has the potentiality to become a singer until we give him or her chances?

It is human nature that everyone likes to win and do things better than others . A student who is weak at mathematics  can be brilliant at other extra curricular activities. If we give students chances to take part in these activities , they will not fall into bad company . Rather , they will use their free time in creative works.

Here is what I am doing to support girls in my community - Jennifer Umeh

I shouldn’t be shamed for sharing my pains, struggles and life experiences. No girl deserves to be slammed or termed ‘attention-seeking’ or ‘too sensitive’ for sharing her story. Our stories need to be told because in them is the hope for survival for every young woman.

My life’s journey epitomizes, to a great extent, the challenges faced by the African girl child. I have been through most of the issues plaguing young women, from domestic abuse , low self esteem and everything else in between.  Walking young women through their ordeals is a mutual healing process as it helps me as much as it does them.

While visiting the motherless babies home in my community, I considered it my duty to mentor them, put smiles on their faces and help them  make the right life choices. Gradually, this mentoring circle grew to become a house hold name in humanitarian sector. 

Our programs inspire girls to have an independent voice,  Confidence and problem solving capacity to speak up,  be decision makers and create social change . To address this, Hope for African Girls Initiative has a conference for young girls as well as outreach programs for primary and secondary schools.

In addition, to debunk the myth that young women are naturally face with Inferiority Complex, we created a platform for all the volunteers Here, we come together in an informal setting to discuss issues relevant to girls, share opportunities, advertise and have meaningful debates about girls issues in Africa.

Our approach is the first of its kind. Our structure includes a board, a committee, and Volunteers. Our diversity reveals the implicit beauty of our differences and we are determined to do much more.

Through our several social media platforms, we invite  volunteers  to contribute to our planned projects.. Most times, our outreach programs were carried out by the volunteers and our growing membership increases the need to incorporate a wide range of issues facing every young girl. We work closely with other NGOs while monitoring progress through the appropriate authorities.

I am that strong Girl that everyone knew would make it through the worst. I am that Fearless girl, the one who would dare to do anything. I am that girl who never backed down.

I am Jennifer Umeh
I am bold for change

HOPE FOR AFRICAN GIRLS INITIATIVE (HAGI) AND NIGERIAN WRITERS AWARD (NWA) SUPPORTS CHILDREN IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

In commemoration of the International day of the girl child, Hope for African Girls Initiative (HAGi) and the Nigerian Writers Award (NWA) embarked on a two day visit to schools in Northern and donated 1000 pair of school sandals to the School Children

The schools include Suleiman Muslim School, Bimpe Primary School Offa, Kwara State; Ajoke Nursery and Primary School, Muslim Community School Ipe, Kwara; Community Primary School Ago Baba Osi, Kwara State and Community Primary School Ibido Alpha, Ipe Kwara State.

 The initiators of the project Jennifer Umeh, founder of Hope for African Girls Initiative and Modest Diko, project coordinator, Nigeria Writers Award initiated the project in order to save the children from the hazards which result from walking barefoot to school. The goal of the project is to  take their shame away and kit them through that was why we came up with the theme tagged

 'Footsteps to a better tomorrow'

The team explained further that there are dangers that come with walking the streets barefoot, stressing that children are at risk of injury and exposure to disease  such as bacteria and parasites, which live in the soil and dirty water. This, they said was the motivation that endeared the project.

Explaining how the programme came about, Jennifer Umeh said: “One sunny afternoon as I stood outside my home, watching several eager and bright eyed children returning back from school, my innermost heart was filled with joy not until I looked at their feet and saw many of them walking barefoot, this gave me a thought which spurred me into action.” She said the gesture would have been impossible without the partnership with Nigeria Writers Award, who bought the idea to support the project and permission of the school authorities.

Speaking with Modest Diko, he said “we decided to visit remote areas because they are the people who needs it the most, we donated the foot wares with the hope that the society will realize the dangers which comes with sending children to school barefoot and this will one day come to a halt, he further stated that children are future of the society so if we truly care and believe in them we need to support them, love cares for joyful giving so we all will together cry happy tears when we see them soaring high.

The group thanked the donors and volunteers who supported the project for their generosity and stated that it will be a work in progress

Teaching Girls the Importance of Education in memory of Nelson Mandela

One of the most recognizable human rights symbols of the twentieth century, is a man whose dedication to the liberties of his people inspires human rights advocates throughout the world.

Girls’ education is one of the most effective ways for ending poverty in developing nations. The benefits of their education are seen by individuals, their families, and
throughout society.

Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills,
values, beliefs, and habits.
Education is commonly divided formally into such stages as preschool or kindergarten,
primary school, secondary school and then college, university

Educational methods include storytelling, discussion, teaching, training, and directed research.
Education frequently takes place under the guidance of educators, but learners may also educate themselves. Education can take place in formal or informal settings and any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts may be considered educational.

The above is the summary of the message Hope for African Girls Initiative took to Port Harcourt
On 18th July 2016 at Community secondary school Abuloma, Rivers state Nigeria. In honor of Nelson Mandela. The programme tagged: The Importance of Education. about 60 Students between the ages of 12 and 16, in attendance.

The Programme featured talks on Education, Girl Child and achievements of Nelson Mandela relating to Education. There were also games, question and answer session, evaluation, presentation of gifts and photographs. The different sessions were facilitated by volunteers. The talk on Importance of Education Explained to the students that an educated woman is, for example, likely to marry at a later age and have fewer children. An educated woman will also be more productive at work and better paid.

The importance of Education, on the other hand, encouraged the students to take their studies serious and maintain good grades at school by reading their books, doing their home work and attending classes regularly.

They were also encouraged to be good ambassadors of their school. The programme ended with the
distribution of Dictionary and Note books to the students and an evaluation of the programme. In the course of the evaluation, many of the Students expressed feelings of joy at being participants in the pogramme. One of the students said she learnt  alot about Education

 "I have learnt that Education for girls can have the benefit of delaying marriage and pregnancy for young girls. Instead of a girl getting married before age 20 and often suffering abuse by her husband, girls who are educated are likely to have a say in who they will marry

Millions of girls still have no access to learning. Illiteracy prevents hundreds of millions of women from fully participating in their societies. Youth unemployment is a global challenge. Education remains a top priority on the new global development agenda being shaped by the international community. Hope for African Girls Initiative makes the case for a new goal for equitable and quality lifelong learning and is mobilizing governments and a wide range of other partners for this.

The Importance of Female Education which Hope for African Girls Initiative Organised with financial support from Miss Olamide Akinro is another step towards the actualization of both organizations’ dreams to see Educated and empowered African Students (Girls) who will be at the vanguard in the quest to raise Africa to greater heights. Hope for African Girls Initiative thank the volunteers who, through their devotion and labor of love, made the event a success. Volunteers everywhere are encouraged to keep shining the light in their different domains by
being proactive in solving societal challenges.

Maimuna's Story

Maimuna’s story was shared by Girls Not Brides member Girl Child Concerns

Where I am from, education is disregarded by so many. Everyone wants to be successful, drive flashy cars, wear the most expensive clothes and carry the latest phones. But I believe that education is essential for everyone; it is education that helps people to earn respect and recognition.
In my village, which is in Kaduna State in northern Nigeria, hawking is seen as more productive than educating a child. Kids are married off at a very early age, too. You will see a 12 year old who already has a baby and is tied down with so many responsibilities.
In my community, if a parent allows their female child to reach the age of 15 in the house, they are seen as irresponsible and their children will be insulted. At 15, single girl is considered a disappointment because all of her friends are married. No man in the village will want to marry her.


THE ONLY GIRL IN SCHOOL
I was 14 years old when our village school re-opened. Most parents only sent their male children. But my dad had made up his mind to do whatever it took to send his children to school because he had dropped out when he was very young. I was the only girl in the whole school.
With time, my friends started developing interest. Most of them joined because they found it a way to escape chores and others were impressed by the changes they saw in me. Registration was free so anyone could join the school. As for my mum, she only allowed me to go to school because my dad said so. Every morning she gave me stuff to sell when I got to school.
My teacher noticed my interest in studies. He checked my work and corrected me when I was wrong. Anytime he didn’t see me in school, he’d come all the way home and take me on his bike to school because he didn’t want me to lose interest like others did.
By the time I reached my sixth year of primary school, all of my friends had been married off and my relatives kept pressuring my dad to marry me off too. They said: sending me to school was a bad decision because “Educated children end up spoilt and irresponsible”. But he refused.


MY DAD, SCHOOL AND TRAINING HAVE HELPED MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE
One day after I completed primary school, my father asked my cousins and my brothers and sisters what plans we had for the future. I was sure that I didn’t want marriage yet so I spoke out. I told him I wanted to continue my studies to university level. He was impressed by my ambitious response and gave his word to support me even though we didn’t have the money.
Three years into secondary school, with no friends but my Dad, bearing long walks to school and back, hardship, hunger, and no money, I almost gave up. But Girl Child Concerns helped me. They helped pay for my school fees and books and gave me life skills training too. My dad and I have decided that any time I come back home for holidays, I will teach my younger relations, married women and other youths who are interested in the things I have learnt at school, including Islamic knowledge.
Many people are impressed by this action I have taken, and wish they chose school over marriage. My sisters say that once they got married, it’s the same routine all the time: chores, babies and all with no money to take care of themselves. The women I teach tell me that they wish they had had the chance to go to school, even for a day.
Others, especially my relatives, are still against it. Whenever I come back for the holidays they look at me in pity and say: “oh maimuna, so this is the path you have chosen for yourself”. Well, “idan ba’a yi sharan masallaci ba ‘a yi na kasuwa” meaning- one day, in the process of getting western knowledge, I will end up with an unwanted pregnancy. Their words hurt me but I refuse to give up.


WHEN I FINISH MY STUDIES I WANT TO
IMPROVE HEALTH IN MY COMMUNITY
I have chosen to study health. My community has a large population and an unending problem of early marriage, which means children are born every day. But there is only one hospital, with 6 wards and few attendants. It’s more like a pharmacy or clinic because only minor injuries can be treated. For most problems, they just prescribe panadol, drips and injections, without finding out what the patient’s problem is.


Lives are at risk, and that touches my heart. When I finish my studies I will go back to my village and make a change. To help with the reconstruction of the hospital; treat as many people as possible, assist the pregnant, old and helpless. I believe that with good health we can all work to achieve our dreams. This is the goal I have set for myself and by God’s grace nothing will stop me from achieving it.


I would like to use this as an opportunity to advise or plead any parent who is reading this to allow their children, especially girls, to go to school. Those who have been lucky to go to school should please try to share the knowledge they have acquired with siblings, friends, whoever they can reach out to. We should recognise that “the best gift any parent can give to their child is education”.


source: GirlnotBride