Agatha Michael (not real name) could not express herself publicly, largely due to low self-esteem occasioned by her poor background which has left her without inadequate education.
Agatha, in her early 20s, also lacked the financial ability to learn any rewarding skill to enable her lead a purposeful life in her rural surroundings of Guma Local Government Area in Benue State.
As a result, she wallowed in self-pity until an enlightened age-mate found and dragged her out of the pit of depression through counselling and encouragement to belong to the ‘Girls Act,’ a support group for young people to fend for themselves.
However, Agatha, and other girls in the group have since found fulfillment that is now driving their dreams to greater heights, improving their lives and their contribution to better their societies.
The organisation behind the novel, uplifting idea, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), recently launched the Girls Act in Benue State to foster healthy living among young people.
Our correspondent reports that the Girls Act, is a girl initiative which fosters leadership and confidence for girls and young women to support each other, strengthens fundamental life skills and develop community activism.
AHF-Nigeria Advocacy/Marketing Manager, Steve Aborisade, in his inaugural speech at the initiative’s chapter in Benue, noted that the idea aimed at brightening the future of girls and young women.
He said, “The Girls Act puts leadership in the hands of young people while empowering them to do the things they would want to do such as skill acquisition and educational support initiative.
“Girls are mostly left out of many things in the society. However, we can’t leave out the boys so some of them are part of the group. We are starting in Benue with 35 girls drawn from across the state,” he said.
Aborisade said the initiative was open to young people aged of 14 – 24 to help them realise their potentials early in life and also empower the girls to stay healthy and thrive.
The advocacy manager further stated that Benue is the second chapter after Abuja to be launched in Nigeria, stressing that Girls Act sought to equip young persons with adequate knowledge to prevent HIV and STI Infections, reduce unplanned pregnancies, help the infected stay on treatment and the indigent stay in school.
On her part, the AHF Prevention Coordinator in Benue, Amina Iyaji-Abiche, said the vision for the Girls Act entailed that young women and girls are empowered with adequate knowledge, education and skills to enable them live meaningful lives as well as ensure that they are prevented from being infected with HIV and other diseases.
“The Girls Act is for girls to have a platform where they can have access to free reproductive health services, menstrual hygiene, psychosocial support as well as some educational support for dropouts and those out of school people.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Wankar, who emerged as the state coordinator of the initiative, said she will extend happiness and love to people through the platform while ensuring that the group engaged in humanitarian activities to better the lot of the entire society.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of palliative – foodstuff, pads and table water – to members of the group to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on their families.
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