Global Action Week In Education 2011: “it’s a Right! Make it Right! Education for Women & Girls Now!”

Each year, since 2000, millions of people across the world take part in activities during the ‘Global Action Week’ (GAC) organized by education coalitions in more than 100 countries.

This activity is to call on world leaders to renew and fulfill their commitment on the Education For All (EFA) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  With just four years left and the world struggling with economic, climate and food crises, Global Action Week (GAW) 2011 is more crucial than ever before to ensure that the world in pursuit of addressing the crises does not turn its back to provide for Education for All by 2015.

Here in The Gambia, the Education for All Campaign Network (EFANet) and its members will be holding the Highlight Event of the GAC on the theme “It’s a Right!  Make it Right!  Education for Women & Girls Now!” This is so because there are 1 in 4 women in the world who are unable to read or write. In Gambia, we have a similar or even a higher number. EFANet therefore, demands that female education is prioritized and acted upon. It is also demanding that gains made in Girls Education under the leadership of the Ministry of Education be consolidated.

This year ‘The Big Story Reading’ in The Gambia will revolve around ‘story-telling’, encouraging people to share stories on women and girls’ education and how either you or someone you know has been affected by education, or perhaps why you agree education is an important right for Women and girls in particular

To men and boys: share your stories relating to women or girls’ experiences and why all women and girls must have the right to quality education. Ideas: You could write how you have benefited from having an education, what you enjoy about education, why education is important, or perhaps how you or someone you know didn’t have an education and how that affected him or her.

EFANet will be recording testimonies and stories from literacy participants to be presented to the members of the National Assembly, Government and civil society as part of the programmes marking 2011 GAW.