Monica delivered a strong speech calling for action on behalf of all the children and especially girls, in Tonj South, South Sudan. Help a Child works in Tonj South and aims to provide a future for the children living there, their families, and their entire community. You can watch or read the speech below!
Dear guest of honour of this remarkable function,
Dear parents,
Dear brothers and sisters,
I am Monica, representing the girls and children of Tonj South. I am honoured to stand in front of you today on behalf of my sisters and fellow children to express our satisfaction to Help a Child by creating this opportunity for us to talk to our parents and leaders, and those who mislead and mishandle us. Help a Child, thank you and thanks to your donors and your dedicated staff. May God continue to provide you with opportunities so that you can reach more unreached and underserved children, parents and communities.
The Guest of honour, ladies and gentlemen, although the girls and children of Tonj South are not the only suffering children in the country, we undergo appalling situations as children and especially as girls.
What do children of Tonj South and girls especially really need from their parents, youth, men and communities in Tonj South?
- We need protection, safety and security in our families, schools, and in our communities so that children can go to school and grow up as responsible citizens.
- We need peace in our community so that our parents can produce food for the families and reduce hanger in our communities.
- We want every public, private and individual to accelerate efforts to prevent child marriage.
- We want NGOs and the government to support girls who have already been married (teenage mothers) through livelihood Activities.
- NGOs, parents, and the government have to support girls at risk of child marriage and provide justice.
- Defend the rights of girls to health, education and the opportunity to fulfil their potentials.
To men and boys, we girls and women already know that we are wives by birth, meaning you will marry us. So, why can’t you wait for us to grow, mature, go to school, get a job and then get married? I know every man would want to marry a woman who can stand on her own not be dependent on her husband. We are therefore asking you to be patient with us, send and support us in school until when we are ready for marriage.
With these few words, I would like to request all the stakeholders, the NGOs, government institutions, schools, churches and chiefs present here to follow the footprint of Help a Child in promoting the rights of children, girls and social interactions among children and communities of Tonj South.
Thank you.