The Sunday News
THE call to take heed to the plight of the girl child has finally been heard, as a newly established organisation — Cradles of Influence Leadership Institute (Cili) —recently launched an initiative aimed at ensuring that the girl child is inspired through education to change the world.
Cili in partnership with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Plan International and First Mutual Life Assurance launched the programme, Take a Girl Child to Work, recently at a local hotel.
Speaking at the introduction of the campaign, Cili director general Mr Mmillili Tapela said it was imperative to include the girl child’s plight during the commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
“The initiative is in line with the Zimbabwean Government’s national priority of enhancing the life skills of school graduates and indeed the global commitment to achieve gender equality.
“The campaign is aimed at exposing our daughters to a variety of career options and life skills,” said Mr Tapela.
He said the initiative was an interactive educational programme that involved the taking of the girl child to work by parents, guardians and relatives.
“The programme also encourages employees to invite orphaned children from orphanages or shelters. The empowerment and emancipation of women as a developmental agenda starts with the girl child. Fundamentally to achieve these goals, education and life skills development are key to enable the cradles of our continued existence, women, to play a leading role in transforming our economy,” Mr Tapela said.
Bulawayo provincial education director Mr Dan Moyo, who was the guest of honour at the event, said schools should implement the programme through the guidance and counselling department in schools.
“The school will be responsible for the recruitment of pupils in liaison with the organisation’s link person,” he said.
Mr Moyo also said companies should not incur expenses once the programme is running.
“A co-ordinator will work with the education officer from the guidance and counselling department.
“The types and level of activities and services provided by employers in the school range from offering career awareness information and monitoring to providing a combination of services that include job shadowing, work observation and work experience,” he said.
He said companies should be prepared to explain the proceedings of the work and encourage rapport between the pupils and workers.
“The benefits are endless, future availability of skilled personnel, provision of more detailed and accurate profile of the technical, work readiness and academic skills,” he said, among a long list of other benefits.
