The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWEGAM) in collaboration with Peace Corps- The Gambia, last Monday commenced a five-day programme on "Take our daughters to work" at the Girls Guide hall along MDI road, Kanifing.  

The 'Take our daughters to work' initiative started in the United States with the objective to nationally sensitise young girls on the importance and possibilities of their education.  Since then, the programme has been repeated in many countries all over the world, including The Gambia. According to Yadicon Njie-Eribo, coordinator FAWEGAM, girls in The Gambia face the same obstacles that female students in all parts of the world encounter, such as low self-esteem and peer pressure not to excel among others.

She added that The Gambian female folk has hard time in finishing schools due to the added pressures of early marriage, teenage pregnancy and lack of encouragement and support from parents. The 'Take our daughters to work' programme attempts to tackle these obstacles by encouraging promising girls to take their education more seriously. "The girls will not only attend discussion but will also be introduced as female role models who have completed their education and now held jobs that give them financial independence," she noted.

She further stated that this year's programme brought together twenty-five upper basic school girls from across the country to participate in the unique mentoring activity. She noted that each participant will stay with her host mother for four nights as part of the activities. "During this time, the girls and host mothers will attend three days of activities conducted by Peace Corps volunteers, FAWEGAM staff and local stakeholders in girls education," she noted.