This week Progressio volunteers have organised the Day of the African Child event for our local village. The Day of the African Child is an annual event which remembers the sacrifice African children have made in terms of education for all. Each year villages across Africa organise an event for children from local schools to perform songs, dances and drama to highlight a certain issue. The issue this year is early and forced marriage and its effect on community, children and parents. “Girls not brides” was the message that we wished to spread through the Day of the African Child.
With funding from African charity NOMAD, Progressio volunteers formed an organising committee with numerous local community leaders over the week, traditional authorities, church leaders, school principals, teachers, and village chiefs. Through these meetings word spread to schools and local youth groups and children organised their own acts to perform in front of 50 invited guests and over 300 children.
Progressio volunteers worked almost all week on the finer details of the event and how to manage such a big responsibility. Invitations, posters and banners have all been designed and distributed throughout the local area to generate interest and attention to the event.
Forced and early marriage is an issue that still affects many young girls in Africa although it has declined in recent years. Our event helps highlight to girls, parents, schools and the wider community that in order for young girls to become independent, confident and intelligent women they must stay in school for as long as possible. Forced and early marriage ensures girls 100% dependence on their husband, early pregnancy and an increased risk of domestic abuse.
Over the past week days have been filled with finding a tent, chairs, PA system, megaphone, guest of honour, refreshments and other unseen essentials that ensured the event went ahead smoothly.
The day itself went without any major issues and saw over 50 children perform, local comedians, speeches from village chiefs and a local phenomenon called “The Big Dance” an African tribal dance which includes men dressed in chicken feathers warding off evil spirits. The Big Dance is extremely popular and important in Malawi and everyone agreed it was an unbelievable experience.
Written by Aoife Grace Moore
