News / National
Govt, CSOs launch a 'Take a Child to work' campaign
07 Dec 2015 at 05:42hrs | Views
Zimbabwean government in collaboration with the Civil society orgabnisations, Plan and Cradles of Influence Leadership Institute has launched a campaign called 'Take a child to work' aimed making children aware of the working environment at an early age.
In a statement jointly Primary and Secondary Education Bulawayo Province together with the two CSOs, said "in line with the Zimbabwean Government's National priority of enhancing the life skills of School Graduates and Indeed the global commitment to achieve gender equality- the Annual ''Take a Girl Child to Work Day''Campaign is an Initiative aimed at exposing ''Our Daughters" to a variety of career options and life skills."
The partners said it is a non-profit Interactive Educational Program that primarily involves the taking of the Girl Child to work by Parents, Guardians and Relatives, however the Program also encourages Organisations and Employees to invite Orphaned children from Orphanages or Shelters.
"The Inaugural Take a Girl Child to Work Day is set for the 10th of December 2015 to coincide with the International 16 Days of Activism against Violence on Women and Children.The Empowerment and Emancipation of Women as a Developmental Agenda starts with the Girl Child," reads their statement.
"Fundamentally to achieve these goals, Education and Life Skills Development are key to enable the Cradles of our continued existence, Women, to play a leading role in transforming our economy. The Goal andRational of the Campaign, "Take a Girl Child to work Day" is best articulated and described by the UNITED NATIONS Zimbabwe Country Team, ''The newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer an opportunity for a global commitment to achieve gender equality and to breaking intergenerational transmission of poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination and realizing our vision of a life of dignity for all."
They said their task now, under the recently adopted 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and its landmark 17 global goals, is to get to work on meeting the SDG targets and making good on their promises to give girls all the opportunities they deserve as they mature to adulthood by 2030.
"That means keeping girls in school and enabling them to acquire an education and the skills they need to become full and productive citizens of Zimbabwe," reads their statement. "This requires among other things ensuring their access to sexual health and reproductive rights. It also means protecting Girl children from child marriages and other sexual violence and abuse. If we achieve this progress for Girls, we will see advances across society. We are determined to invest in today's adolescent Girls so that tomorrow they can stand strong as citizens, political leaders, entrepreneurs, heads of their households and more. They said this will secure their rights and our common future.
"Participation is offered to a number of Organisations, Companies or Individuals who sign up before a given deadline and upon Signing up and Registering, they will receive the following, Certification of Participation by the Organisation/ Company, Certification of Participation for the Individual Girl Child, The Book "My Daughter" for the Girl Child, A Campaign branded T Shirt for the Girl Child, 5. A Guideline for participating Organisations, Report Card for feedback on Campaign from both the Girl Child and the Organisation, and Indemnity Form to be signed By the Girl Child," reads the statement.
The 2015 Take a Girl Child to Work Day Campaign is a Dry Run to get the Populous involved in the making of a National Campaign and Blue print for the Empowerment of the Girl Child in Zimbabwe.
The Campaign will be set for 11 of October Annually, on the day set aside to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child. The following years will see the growth of participating Organisations and indeed a refinement of the Concept with a fundamental focus on incorporating other Programs and Initiatives like forming a Multi Million Dollar Bursary that will benefit many Girls in Zimbabwe, in particular the Rural Girl Child. Part of this will be to also formulate Ongoing Leadership Development Programs for the Girl Child.
"This guideline is designed to assist you in planning your involvement in the Take a Girl Child to Work Day initiative, from registration through to successful execution on the day," reads their statement. "On Take a Girl Child to Work Day, thousands of young Zimbabwean girls from ages 15 to 20 will converge on corporate offices, factories, hospitals, government departments, restaurants, hotels, airports, institutions of higher learning and construction sites across the country."
They said employees are encouraged to bring their daughters, sisters, cousins, granddaughters and nieces between the ages of 15-20 to shadow them or their colleagues during Take a Girl Child to Work Day.
"Registered companies are also encouraged to host schools from a Rural Areas or disadvantaged communities which are situated closest to their business," reads the statement.
"Once you have registered your participation, you will need to prepare a programme that will give the Girl Child the most benefit. It's useful to appoint a workplace co-ordinator who will facilitate and assume responsibility for the day's events, which include: liaise with the Girls or schools on all matters relating to the visit to your workplace, ensure that the school appoints a teacher or other representative to mirror the workplace co-ordinator's activities at the school, ensure that all staff members are informed of the day's activities, enlist the participation of role models in your organisation, Identify employees from your departments who will be shadowed by the girls, ensure that consent/indemnity forms are issued, signed and returned by the participating employees for each participating girl child, abnd supervise the implementation of the programme on the day ensure that your organisation has appropriate safety measures in place."
"The primary objective is to expose girl children to the work environment by demonstrating the importance of participating in the economic growth of the country," reads their statement. "It will also encourage them to cultivate professional skills that when they reach tertiary level they will have the information to identify a meaningful career for themselves. Companies should develop creative ideas nimble enough to allow the girls' natural curiosity to drive their activities."
Some of these activities could include a presentation outlining the key activities and disciplines within the company, talks by both female and male employees who are regarded as role models, tours of the work environment, panel or round-table discussions to create a dialogue between the employees and girls and show the girls the importance of technology to your business.
"Rural Girls are an integral part of the Girl Child Development Agenda. Therefore the team will ensure that Partner Organisations and Stakeholders ensure that Girls who are located in Rural Communities such as Mutoko, Tsholotsho, Binga, Gokwe and other Peri-urban Townships are provided with transport to the host Organisations. Where it is possible, partners will be encouraged to take their "Work" to the Rural Communities," reads the statement.
"Organisations should ensure that they ensure a healthy and safe working environment for all, which therefore ensures that the girls understand and abide by all regulations practiced in your company. Adequate safety and protective gear for the girls should be provided."
They said organisations should not make the day too long or tiring and they must ensure that there are refreshments for the children during tea and lunch breaks.
"Fundamentally, it is normal for all school outings, the girl children should have permission from their parents or legal guardians to visit your premises. Such permission is usually granted in writing on school consent, indemnity and waiver forms," reads the statement.
In a statement jointly Primary and Secondary Education Bulawayo Province together with the two CSOs, said "in line with the Zimbabwean Government's National priority of enhancing the life skills of School Graduates and Indeed the global commitment to achieve gender equality- the Annual ''Take a Girl Child to Work Day''Campaign is an Initiative aimed at exposing ''Our Daughters" to a variety of career options and life skills."
The partners said it is a non-profit Interactive Educational Program that primarily involves the taking of the Girl Child to work by Parents, Guardians and Relatives, however the Program also encourages Organisations and Employees to invite Orphaned children from Orphanages or Shelters.
"The Inaugural Take a Girl Child to Work Day is set for the 10th of December 2015 to coincide with the International 16 Days of Activism against Violence on Women and Children.The Empowerment and Emancipation of Women as a Developmental Agenda starts with the Girl Child," reads their statement.
"Fundamentally to achieve these goals, Education and Life Skills Development are key to enable the Cradles of our continued existence, Women, to play a leading role in transforming our economy. The Goal andRational of the Campaign, "Take a Girl Child to work Day" is best articulated and described by the UNITED NATIONS Zimbabwe Country Team, ''The newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer an opportunity for a global commitment to achieve gender equality and to breaking intergenerational transmission of poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination and realizing our vision of a life of dignity for all."
They said their task now, under the recently adopted 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and its landmark 17 global goals, is to get to work on meeting the SDG targets and making good on their promises to give girls all the opportunities they deserve as they mature to adulthood by 2030.
"That means keeping girls in school and enabling them to acquire an education and the skills they need to become full and productive citizens of Zimbabwe," reads their statement. "This requires among other things ensuring their access to sexual health and reproductive rights. It also means protecting Girl children from child marriages and other sexual violence and abuse. If we achieve this progress for Girls, we will see advances across society. We are determined to invest in today's adolescent Girls so that tomorrow they can stand strong as citizens, political leaders, entrepreneurs, heads of their households and more. They said this will secure their rights and our common future.
"Participation is offered to a number of Organisations, Companies or Individuals who sign up before a given deadline and upon Signing up and Registering, they will receive the following, Certification of Participation by the Organisation/ Company, Certification of Participation for the Individual Girl Child, The Book "My Daughter" for the Girl Child, A Campaign branded T Shirt for the Girl Child, 5. A Guideline for participating Organisations, Report Card for feedback on Campaign from both the Girl Child and the Organisation, and Indemnity Form to be signed By the Girl Child," reads the statement.
The 2015 Take a Girl Child to Work Day Campaign is a Dry Run to get the Populous involved in the making of a National Campaign and Blue print for the Empowerment of the Girl Child in Zimbabwe.
The Campaign will be set for 11 of October Annually, on the day set aside to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child. The following years will see the growth of participating Organisations and indeed a refinement of the Concept with a fundamental focus on incorporating other Programs and Initiatives like forming a Multi Million Dollar Bursary that will benefit many Girls in Zimbabwe, in particular the Rural Girl Child. Part of this will be to also formulate Ongoing Leadership Development Programs for the Girl Child.
They said employees are encouraged to bring their daughters, sisters, cousins, granddaughters and nieces between the ages of 15-20 to shadow them or their colleagues during Take a Girl Child to Work Day.
"Registered companies are also encouraged to host schools from a Rural Areas or disadvantaged communities which are situated closest to their business," reads the statement.
"Once you have registered your participation, you will need to prepare a programme that will give the Girl Child the most benefit. It's useful to appoint a workplace co-ordinator who will facilitate and assume responsibility for the day's events, which include: liaise with the Girls or schools on all matters relating to the visit to your workplace, ensure that the school appoints a teacher or other representative to mirror the workplace co-ordinator's activities at the school, ensure that all staff members are informed of the day's activities, enlist the participation of role models in your organisation, Identify employees from your departments who will be shadowed by the girls, ensure that consent/indemnity forms are issued, signed and returned by the participating employees for each participating girl child, abnd supervise the implementation of the programme on the day ensure that your organisation has appropriate safety measures in place."
"The primary objective is to expose girl children to the work environment by demonstrating the importance of participating in the economic growth of the country," reads their statement. "It will also encourage them to cultivate professional skills that when they reach tertiary level they will have the information to identify a meaningful career for themselves. Companies should develop creative ideas nimble enough to allow the girls' natural curiosity to drive their activities."
Some of these activities could include a presentation outlining the key activities and disciplines within the company, talks by both female and male employees who are regarded as role models, tours of the work environment, panel or round-table discussions to create a dialogue between the employees and girls and show the girls the importance of technology to your business.
"Rural Girls are an integral part of the Girl Child Development Agenda. Therefore the team will ensure that Partner Organisations and Stakeholders ensure that Girls who are located in Rural Communities such as Mutoko, Tsholotsho, Binga, Gokwe and other Peri-urban Townships are provided with transport to the host Organisations. Where it is possible, partners will be encouraged to take their "Work" to the Rural Communities," reads the statement.
"Organisations should ensure that they ensure a healthy and safe working environment for all, which therefore ensures that the girls understand and abide by all regulations practiced in your company. Adequate safety and protective gear for the girls should be provided."
They said organisations should not make the day too long or tiring and they must ensure that there are refreshments for the children during tea and lunch breaks.
"Fundamentally, it is normal for all school outings, the girl children should have permission from their parents or legal guardians to visit your premises. Such permission is usually granted in writing on school consent, indemnity and waiver forms," reads the statement.
Source - Byo24News
