International Women's Day 2015. ASHA Advocates for Girls Rights to Education

“…there shall be no bridging the gender equity gap if women are still being bullied or brow beaten into dropping out of school for their brothers neither can we attain gender equality if women and girls seeking education become victims to reprisals.“ Vweta Chadwick

Education for girls and women is still considered a tall order in some parts of the world. Despite interventions designed to tackle this, many, especially those living in poor and war/violence stricken countries and communities still lack access to basic education.

In Ajegunle, for example,a community where Project ASHA’s Empowering Women of the Future (EWOF) project has worked with women and girls for the last three years, girls right to education is still considered a luxury by many. Some parents consider it ‘bad investment’ to send their girls to school up to the secondary level let alone the tertiary, preferring to pay the fees of their brothers, in their words “She will marry and be another man’s property.”

This belief alone has in no small way affected girls views and motivations towards their classes and school, as many of the EWOF participants reveal.

These are some of the reasons why we chose to commemorate this years International Women's Day with theme: "Make It Happen" by going on a three hours protest march around the Ajegunle community.

This march led by ASHA's Global Programmes Director, Vweta Chadwick and Project Officer, Blessing Ashi addressed some of the key barriers women and girls face in seeking education.

Difficult to access areas of the community were covered. Handbills and sensitization materials were distributed as parents were being urged to allow their daughters equal opportunities as they do their sons.

Difficult to access areas of the community were covered. Informative handbills and sensitization materials were distributed to hundreds, parents and guardians were urged to allow their daughters equal opportunities as they do their sons.

This march ended at the Baale’s compound, who again reiterated his support for women and girls education.

As we celebrate this years international women’s day, let us bear in mind that there shall be no bridging the gender equity gap if women are still being bullied or brow beaten into dropping out of school for their brothers neither can we attain gender equality if women and girls seeking education become victims to reprisals.