The Girl's Power Effect
By Meshack Roman of Mrundulu Secondary School.
I am Meshaki Roman, Mentor of the Mrundulu Fema Club located in the Misungwi district, Mwanza region.
Femina Hip and Fema Club at Mrundulu Secondary School greatly contributes to our students after establishing a Fema Club. We have been able, to see results through Fema magazines and the Girl's Power project. Students read Fema magazine, and the content of the magazine touches many students.
The Girl’s Power Project was implemented for the first time here in the school in 2018 targeting form one student has a big boost for students, especially girls, to believe in themselves.
Also, there was good attendance during and after the project was done. There were 99 students in 2018 at the beginning of the year. There were many pregnancy cases, and many students were failing to express themselves to us mentors/teachers.
I was employed here in 2014 and I remember not less than six to eight girls with pregnancies happening every year.
Out of 99 students, only one girl got pregnant, and one dropped out of school. It became history for us because it has not happened here. For us, it was a big achievement. After that, from 2018 until now, there have been no pregnancy cases in school or students who dropped out of school because of pregnancy.
This success is attributed to the project's training and orientation for form one students, ensuring a positive impact on their well-being and achieving their goals.
As a result of Girls Power training showing good results here at school, madam and I as Fema Club mentors are using the six weeks of orientation for the form one students and orient them on protect and build your life models. For out-of-school, especially for the girls, we had one aspect where we taught how to say a big no to men.
The girls who were being sexually assaulted in the street speak of self-confidence, and at some point, they report to the teachers.
Some parents, after hearing their children are learning Girl's Power training, wish the training to continue every year. For example, at a ceremony for the training graduates, we invited the parents. The parents testified about their children being able to change, especially having confidence since in the past they felt shy.
Other results from the Girls' Power Project at first the students were afraid of me but later after teaching girls even when they are on their period, they can face me and ask for a pad for emergencies. In the past when I first arrived here, it was not likely to happen.
Nevertheless, Fema magazine gives motivation to young people. They like it very much and it helps many young people to achieve their goals here at school because it teaches life skills.