BLESSED SIKHOSANA GIRLS EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP: (BSGES)
Named after the founder, The Rev. Blessed Unami Sikhosana, The BSGES is awarded in the expectations that when a girl is encouraged, empowered, stays in school and earns a degree she will be resilient in the face of complexity, ambiguity, and change; will become responsible and confident participants in the world; and, will lead considered and
consequential lives. We believe that if we sponsor the girls’ education, our students will be prepared to engage intellectually with the broader community with insight, conviction, and compassion. VISION:
Our vision is to be a leading non-profit organization in maximizing vulnerable girls’ intellectual, physical, emotional, and social growth. (2) To empower girls to take risks, work collaboratively, and not be afraid to ask questions that concern their human rights, and pursue their dreams. (3) To provide an excellent education for every student and continuing to innovate so each girl thrives in school and excels in life. OUR PROMISE:
Is to continue to nurture every girl through her individual journey and to provide each girl with the support she needs to know herself, to say no to early marriage, to have fewer children to pursue excellence, and to reach her potential, both as a student and as a citizen of Zimbabwe. FACTS:
In Zimbabwe, there is a national gender disparity in basic education enrollment, retention and completion against girls. In addition there are regional variations in gender disparity in education with girls and women in rural communities generally at a disadvantage. FIRST:
We all know that a lot of girls are dropping out of school or are not being sent to school at all because of the poverty of their immediate caregivers. Zimbabwe’s traditional and cultural attitudes are still very strong, especially in rural areas. The little money parents have to scrounge for sending children to school is seen as too big an investment to risk on the girl’s education. SECOND:
Poverty has been a major factor in the chronic under-enrolment of all pupils, especially girls. Many parents are so poor that they pull their children out of school for income generating activities, rather than paying for their children's school fees so as to sustain their families. In such cases, non-formal training can improve both literacy and employment prospects by providing “second chance” education to take care of drop-outs. Measures should be taken to ensure that more non-formal educational opportunities are made available to help girls escape the poverty trap. THIRD:
Yet, the empowerment of women is so crucial to change some of the societal attitudes and behaviors that discriminate against girls and women. The empowerment of women is therefore linked to the empowerment of girls and to the full enjoyment of their rights. CONCLUSION:
As a Zimbabwean I know that education is an essential element of the empowerment of any child, moreso girls and women. A good quality education, designed on the basis of women and girls’ immediate and strategic needs, will certainly build a girl's capacities and prepares her to seize opportunities in the working industry. But without achieving gender equality for girls in education, the Zimbabwe has no chance of achieving many of the ambitious health, social and development targets that it has set for itself. Promote and protect the rights of the girl child and increase awareness of her needs and potential.
2. Elimination all forms of discrimination against the girl child.
3. Eliminate negative cultural attitudes and practices against girls.(female genital mutilation)
4. Promote synergy between girls' education and poverty alleviation programs.
5. Eradication violence against the girl child.
6. Promote the girl child’s awareness of and participation in social, economic and political life.
7. Strengthen the role of the family in improving the status of the girl child. Give incentives to parents so they can participate in encouraging the girl to go to school.
