In the spirit of drawing the attention of the young generation to the severity of violence against women and girls, and its collective impact on society, particularly in a changing climate, BlueGreen Initiative for Sustainable Development (BlueGreenISD), a youth-led, environmental sustainability-focused CSO based in Akwa Ibom State, with the support of Climate and Sustainable Development Network of Nigeria (CSDevNet), conducted a one-day sensitisation campaign at Ukpaubong Community Secondary School, Itam, in Itu Local Government Area of the state.
Every 25th of November is globally marked as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, kicking off the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. This year’s theme was “UNITE: Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.”
The elated students and staff expressed their gratitude to the organization for bringing such an event to their school.
The school’s principal, Mr. Awa, remarked, “I love programs like this because they open up our students to information that was once a privilege for those in urban areas.”
“I thank BlueGreen Initiative for Sustainable Development for finding our school worthy of this exercise. Just like Oliver Twist, I want to ask that this comes to us again and again; our doors are open for future engagements,” he added.
The campaign, structured as a symposium, featured speakers addressing the topics of gender-based violence and the nexus between climate change and gender-based violence.
The high point of the event was the establishment of the Green School Club, a flagship initiative of BlueGreenISD, and the commemorative planting of trees, led by the Executive Director, Mr. Ediongsenyene Ndunobong, and Mr. Awa, the school principal.
