Canada – ‘Education gives girls a voice’
A postgraduate law student in South Africa, Honono has been actively involved in campaigns in her country and in the African continent to ensure that girls and women are not denied their right to education. Honono has participated in the Bakhita Partnership of Education launched by the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network-Africa, and the student-led Right to Education campaign in South Africa.
Why is girls’ education important?
Girls' education is important in creating a well-rounded society. Girls need to have access to skillsets that are built within formal schools so that they can develop themselves and contribute to society. The independence of young women relies on them being able to use these skillsets to secure their own economic freedom. This spares them from abuse in the name of being provided for. It is extremely important that they can provide for themselves and nurture generations that are just as self-sufficient. When young women can take care of themselves, they are less likely to be subject to forced marriages, female genital mutilation, sexual assaults, and advances in exchange for financial favours.
Beyond that, girls’ education will help build communities that embrace the innovations of young women.
Noluthando Honono
From your experience, how does girls’ education affect their agency in the world?
Being the oldest sibling has given me a significant amount of responsibility. Being equipped with education and being someone who used learned skillsets to develop myself has allowed me to meet those responsibilities in assisting my siblings in their own education.
Education allowed me to assist other young people in gaining access to institutions of higher learning. While I was in undergrad, I participated in the Right to Learn Campaign, which helped applicants get into universities.
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