MAPOTENG – A HUMANITARIAN non-governmental organisation has pledged to bring change to the lives of more than half a million boys and girls in the next five years, as it seeks to uplift children from poor and vulnerable backgrounds.
A five year-strategic plan by World Vision Lesotho (WVL) is targeting to assist 550 000 children from 210 000 families across Lesotho, although the major focus will be on the historically underprivileged girl child.
Teboho Lekalakala, a WVL board member, announced the plan during the commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child hosted by her organisation last Thursday. The event was held under the theme “Empowering girls before, during and after conflicts”.
Lekalakala said the commemoration was focused on improving the life of the girl child by understanding the challenges they face and finding ways of solving he challenges.
“Sustainable Development Goal #5 entails stoppage of child marriage and enforces gender equality and protection of children and women,” she said.
She highlighted that the donation of classrooms to several schools could help eliminate the harassment of pupils, who can now attend classes at schools near their homes.
Some pupils are usually harassed on their way to or from school, especially when they travel long distances. Some end up in unplanned marriages, she said.
Lekalakala commended Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso and other officials for working towards ensuring that the rights of the girl child are respected.
Society, she said, should teach boys to realise and familiarise themselves with challenges faced by the girl child.
The Queen said she was excited to be part of the commemorations.
She noted that eradicating poverty was crucial because many girls were forced into early marriages due to lack of basic items at home.
“Therefore, this day is important because it symbolises that people ought to respect and be aware of the child’s rights and raise awareness on the challenges they face,” she said.
She said economic challenges could affect the children emotionally, physically and mentally and also lower their self-esteem as girls.
“All these have an impact on child marriage. It is therefore a challenge in the Sub-Saharan Africa including Lesotho, we are witnesses of this situation,” she said.
The Queen indicated that worldwide, child marriages violate the human rights of the girl child, noting that such “human rights violations… have increased to 24 percent from 19 percent in 2017”.
At least one in every three girls who enter into child marriages face harassment through gender based violence and such girls are vulnerable to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS, she said.
Early marriages also adversely affect the ability of the girl child to pursue their education and career goals, said the queen.
“Nine percent of infants are born by very young pupils and this is a result of unplanned pregnancies” she said.
She pleaded with parents to stand firm against child marriages by showing their children that they have a brighter future away from early marriages.
Meanwhile, speaking at the same occasion, the Minister of Education and Training, Professor Ntoi Rapapa, condemned the rape and murder of a 15-year-old Nthabiseng Sebeso from Dahon High School. The girl was raped by a 19-year- old boy.
The minister said he was dejected because both pupils will now lose out on their education.
“The suspect has been arrested and this implies that he will no longer go to school but will have to serve his sentence in jail,” he said.
Prof Rapapa warned that teachers who engage in love affairs with the pupils face dismissal.
He urged people to report such incidents.
“Parents I urge you to talk to your kids, should you know that your child carries weapons or drugs to school, report it because they would lose their lives,” he said.
The minister pleaded with the parents to teach their girl children to walk in groups and to avoid drugs.
Tokase Mphutlane
