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Trainers, facilitators and some traditional rulers at the training in Obanliku
By Akpan David, Calabar
About 2000 estimated girls and women who are survivors of early and unintended pregnancy, child marriage, gender-based violence, as well as those living with HIV and disability, including women assaulted, have been targeted in Cross River State to benefit from second chance education.
This follows the training of 50 facilitators to drive its Accelerated Second Chance Education for Women and Girls in Cross River State.
The training, held in Obubra in central part of the state, was facilitated by Education Today for Sustainable Development Initiative (ETSDI), a non-governmental organisation and implementing partner with UNESCO for the implementation of Spotlight Initiative’s program on second chance education.
By the training, the 50 facilitates have become ambassadors of ETSDI’s second chance education program for the targeted group.
They were selected from 11 communities in Obanliku and nine communities in Obubra local governments, in both northern and central parts of the state.
Speaking at the training, head of ETSDI program, Mrs Glory Brendan-Otuojor said, “The 2000 out-of-school/marginalized women and girls are expected to be reached as beneficiaries of the second chance education initiative in the state.
“We implore the facilitators, who are partners and stakeholders in the realization of this goal, to work assiduously in ensuring that the target population is reached for the benefit of the learners, and by extension, their communities, LGAs and the state as a whole.
“When women are empowered with knowledge, the right information and skills, their ability to deal with gender-based violence and other undesirable situations becomes enhanced. As a result, they’ll be able to make informed decisions, speak up for themselves and other women in their communities, and also be able to contribute meaningfully to their family’s well-being.”
In her goodwill message, the Director, Agency for Adult and Non-formal Education in Cross River, Mrs Clara Omini, implored the facilitators to effectively drive the process of giving the young girls and women a second chance at getting educated and empowered through the acquisition of skills and other life-enhancing skills.
The training module included an expose on the activities, goals and vision of the EU/UN Spotlight Initiative, Methodology for Non-formal Education, Family Life and Health Education/Life Skills, training on Gender Based Violence, as well as Financial Literacy and Monitoring Tools for the Implementation of Spotlight Initiative’s activities.
Other programs of ETSDI include capacity building training for education providers, school outreaches and campaign for girls’ education, and community advocacy and sensitization on GBV.
