(SENEGAL) “When her father died, I had to take my daughter Fama out of school because I did not have enough money for tuition,” says Rokhyay Diop.

Fama Fané is an 18-year-old West African teen who is an example of Make It Happen, the theme of International Women’s Day (www.internationalwomensday.com) in 2015. The day marks the economic, political, and social achievements of women around the world.  2015 is the 45th annual commemoration of the United Nations celebration of the achievements of women like Fama who help move our cultures and societies toward greater gender equality.

In most places the odds are stacked against young people from poor families, but they can begin to make their hopes for the future come true with opportunities like World Renew’s adolescent health and rights program, in partnership with Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development, in West Africa.

After her father passed away, Fama Fané stayed at home to help Rokhaya Diop with household chores and to make food to sell at the market. The family managed to survive from day to day this way for several years.

But Fama’s projected future was grim. As the illiterate daughter of an impoverished widow, the best she could hope for was to marry early—and pray that the arrangement improved her life. But, when she was about 14 years old, a peer educator from World Renew’s adolescent health and rights program visited Fama and Rokhaya.

When the educator invited Fama to join the program, Rokhaya gave her daughter permission to attend. One of the first topics that Fama discussed with other teens in her neighborhood group was their dreams for the future. Although she had no money or opportunity for training, Fama said she that wanted to be a seamstress. To Fama, it was an impossible dream—she had none of the resources to make it happen.

Fama attended her neighborhood youth group regularly for several years. She took advantage of the trainings the program offers in establishing healthy family and peer relationships, maintaining good hygiene, reproductive health, and avoiding risky behaviors and sexually transmitted infections.

“I’m proud to be part of the adolescent health and rights program,” Fama says. “It has provided me with training in many areas, and I am more responsible because of it.” Fama also joined a youth action group where she developed leadership and debate skills by organizing community activities about local social problems and issues. Through her efforts, she has also built up a good reputation and won the respect of the other youth in her neighborhood.

Last year, Fama was selected to participate in a new vocational education program where she is learning to sew. She is learning the skills of her trade—cutting, stitching, and pattern-making—as well as taking general classes such as French and physical education. Fama is taking an opportunity that World Renew offered her and making her dreams happen.

“When I complete vocational school, I will receive a diploma. Then I hope to open my own sewing shop so I can take care of myself and support my mother,” Fama says. “World Renew’s adolescent health and rights program is helping me realize my dream. I will try my hardest not only to succeed, but to make sure that other girls can also benefit.”

Rokhaya Diop is proud of Fama. “When the adolescent health and rights program chose Fama to participate in the vocational education program, it was a great relief to me,” she says. “She is working hard to profit from her training and learn a trade so that she can take care of herself and her future.”

On International Women’s Day 2015, World Renew celebrated Fama Fané and the many women like her who can Make It Happen because of opportunities such as World Renew’s adolescent health and rights program in West Africa.

There is much work to be done in gender equity, especially among poor communities where social, economic, and cultural pressures limit women’s opportunities. Two-thirds of the world’s poorest people are women and 75 percent of these women are, like Fama, illiterate. Without the opportunity to improve their lives the future for many includes violence, oppression, and trafficking.

You can support women like Fama Fané and her mother through World Renew’s gender justice programs.

Joys

• Fama and 19 other young women have started the second year of their professional training in sewing and hairdressing.
• Senegal partner CECS successfully organized a week-long training for 17 peer educators who will teach adolescent health groups in their communities in Saint Louis, Thies and villages in the Fatick region.
• In April and May, my daughter Djéssou and I will be in North America for deputation. We look forward to seeing you! Please let me know if you’d like a visit to your church or school. I will work with the North American offices to try to arrange it.

Challenges:

• The former president of Senegal, Wade, has been trying to destabilize the present government. Senegal has been a beacon of peace in this region and we hope that it will remain this way.
• In April and May, I will be out of country and will try to support World Renew Senegal and our partners by long-distance communication.

 

Blessings,

Esther Kuhn

Program Consultant
World Renew Sengal