For more than six years, our organisation has been regularly interacting with school children and has identified various challenges they face. In 2022, we initiated educational workshops in schools to address significant issues affecting them, including their rights, alcohol use, child marriage and teenage pregnancy, specifically aimed at children aged 9 to 19.
Facilitators Wisdom and Sulemana share that sessions on alcohol abuse and child rights have made a meaningful impact.
About the school activities:
– Wisdom: I lead sessions on alcohol abuse in basic schools in Builsa North, where alcohol is easily accessible and widely used by teens. Our goal is to educate them on the effects of alcohol abuse so they can make informed choices.
– Sulemana: I focus on child rights by teaching children about their fundamental human rights and empowering them to seek help when needed. I also engage parents and caregivers to ensure they understand their responsibilities in protecting children.
Issues raised during sessions:
– Sulemana: Many students believe corporal punishment is the best way to discipline a child, and it’s common for parents to involve children in farm work during school hours, which can disrupt their education. Gender roles also challenge girls’ education, as they often do house chores before school and come tired.
– Wisdom: Many students have been exposed to alcohol at a young age. Some even sell alcohol at family-owned spots or are sent to buy it for adults. This shows that local laws on alcohol are not enforced.
Favourite moments:
– Sulemana: My favourite sessions are the third and fourth, where students learn about the concept of abuse, how to report it, and show appreciation for the information.
– Wisdom: The icebreaker activities are always fun; students often ask for more after sessions. I also enjoy it when they playfully act out the behaviour of someone under the influence of alcohol. This has always shown their awareness of the risks and dangers of alcohol abuse, but they do not have a safe and appropriate space to discuss these concerns and prevention methods.
Lessons learned:
– Wisdom: Working with children is fun, especially using interactive teaching methods like icebreakers. Asking students to list specific answers helps them focus and often reveals that they already know the answers. This can be really encouraging for any child and promotes further participation for the rest of the session.
– Sulemana: I’ve learned that group discussions help children learn best, and maintaining a flexible and friendly atmosphere encourages nervous students to participate.
