Liberia: WFP Takes Gender-Based Violence Awareness To Students

The World Food Program (WFP) had taken a lead in this year's campaign on gender -based violence through awareness creation, involving students in the observance of 16 Days of Activism.

During the ceremony held at the Francis Maweah Public School, commonly ‘Child Friendly School , in Ganta, Nimba County, there were some inscriptions printed on an orange banner, which read, “Orange the country; Unite ! Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls.”

“We are all part of the solution, we are all activated and by both gender equality and food insecurity, we can end gender based violence,” one of the WFP placards read.”

On some of the placards, it says during emergencies girls and women are at greater risk of food insecurity, malnutrition and gender - based violence.

“Every person has the right to adequate and nutritious foods and a life without violence, WFP day No to gender-based violence,” was one of the messages from the students.

The program started with a parade on the main streets of Ganta and climaxed with an indoor program.

At the close of the occasion, 15 students were selected from grade two - grade six, three representing each of the classes in a drawing competition.

The competing students were told that with all the good food WFP has been supplying to their schools, they should draw a picture that will show what impact they will make in their various communities, when they are grown up.

After the drawing, each was asked to do a presentation and the best six drawers will be declared as winners and awarded with a certificate each and assorted school supplies.

The Ministry of Gender local Representative, who serves as special guest on the occasion said the 16 days of Activism were set aside worldwide to create awareness on the fight against gender - based violence.

Ms. Aletha K. Dolo told the students to take the fight against gender - based violence very seriously, saying, “Changing minds, changing aptitude.”

She urged the students to speak out against any gender- based violence in their communities.

The WFP is providing school feeding to over 100 schools in Nimba and several other schools in other parts of Liberia with rice, vegetable oil, split beans, salts and many others.

Some school feeding activities in the past focused on female students under the program known as ‘take home ratio’.

In this program, female students were provided with rice and other ingredients to be taken home as a means of keeping them in school.