As part of our PLAY it DREAM it activities, FAME Foundation organized a community advocacy outreach at Durumi 1 community on February 26, 2022. The advocacy outreach is one of PLAY it DREAM it approach towards ending early marriage and advocating for girl-child education.

Guest speakers and FAME volunteers were present to talk to the women on various topics. A Hausa translator was also engaged, for effective communication.

First Session: Ms. Esther Doyin educated the community women and girls on the danger of early marriage. She advised against early marriage and further explained the dangers of early marriage. She concluded by advising the women against forcing their children into early marriage, but rather respect their decision, and also support them.

Second Session: Following that was Ms. Pat Odigie, who enlightened the women and community leaders on identifying and encouraging the girl-child to realize her potential.
“Most parents are not intentional about identifying their children’s potential, especially the girl-children,” she said.

She advised the women to encourage and also support their girl-children to discover and nurture their unique potentials, as this will enable them to live a great and impactful life.

Third Session: The third session was conducted by Ms. Folake Oyebade, FAME Foundation’s Community Mobilization Officer and Volunteers Coordinator. She engaged the women and girls in an interactive discussion addressing Gender-based Violence.

She educated the participants on the different forms of GBV, which range from emotional, sexual, psychological to physical forms of GBV. She ended by encouraging them to stand up for their rights and speak up against GBV.

Ms. Aderonke Bello, Executive Director, FAME Foundation, concluded the sessions by advising women and girls on the importance of girl-child education and re-emphasized the need to stand against all forms of gender-based violence and early girl child marriage.

In the end, 50 women and girls who benefited from the advocacy outreach were enlisted as change advocates in their community.