FoSLYN intensifies advocacy against teenage pregnancy
Forum of Sierra Leonean Youth Network (FoSLYN), a leading civil society organization promoting youth affairs, with support from Smart Mobile Company, has intensified advocacy against teenage pregnancy, especially among school pupils.
In this light, FoSLYN has commenced intra secondary schools debate on the topic “Why the increase in Teenage Pregnancy in Sierra Leone during Ebola outbreak?”
Speaking at a programme held last Thursday at the Government Model Secondary School, the Director of FoSLYN, Thomas Pa Alie Babadie, underscored the importance of the debate which aimed to conscientize school pupils on the effect of teenage pregnancy.
He said that the causes and effects of teenage pregnancy should be voiced out by the school pupils themselves who have been affected.
The Director added that the debate would help the pupils improve on their grammar as well as make them confident in public speaking.
He revealed the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy in the country, citing a recent survey conducted indicating that 4,310 girls are out of school because they were impregnated during the Ebola outbreak in five districts – Moyamba, Port Loko, Kailahun, Kono and Freetown.
Marketing and Communications Specialist – Smart Mobile, Gibril Abu Bakarr, said they were in support of FoSLYN’s initiative in raising awareness on teenage pregnancy, urging girls to become role models like Zainab Bangura, Dr. Kadie Sesay, Hillary Clinton etc.
Four pupils participated in the debate and highlighted the major causes of teenage pregnancy thus: peer group pressure for material things, misplacement of priority, lack of parental control, lack of sex education and poverty.
They stressed that the pupils themselves are responsible for their downfall because nowadays girls are not content and do not focus on education to actualize their dreams.
Prizes were awarded to the best speaker, Kelfal Kamara – SSS I Art Blue; and runner up, Abu Mansaray by Smart Mobile Company.
By Yusufu Sesay
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