By Yiep Joseph
A group of young girls who took over leadership roles at the British Embassy for a day in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child have called on the government to invest in education.
Today, October 11, is the International Day of the Girl Child, a day to celebrate and empower girls around the world and to advocate for their rights and opportunities.
Addressing the media Thursday evening ahead of the day urged the government to put more effort into educating girls.
The symbolic takeover of the ambassador’s office and other vital offices in the British Embassy by the girls is meant to prepare them for future roles and opportunities ahead of them.
Alanyo Daphine, one of the girls who took the ambassador role at the Embassy, expressed that her one-day engagement with the head of other missions symbolizes the great future ahead of the girls, calling on the government to invest in girl child education to build good leaders.
“I use this opportunity to appeal to our government to put more focus and invest in education,” she said.
Alanyo further stated that when girls acquire education, they contribute to nation-building.
She appreciated the British Embassy for continued support toward girl child education in South Sudan.
In her part, Emmanuela Jabe appealed to parents to take their girls to school, adding that they can be good leaders and head several government institutions when given opportunities.
She called on the government to offer learning opportunities equally to all citizens.
Jabe urged the government to emphasize and create awareness so that both girls and boys enjoy equal learning opportunities.
Nayalong Kuol called on the young girls in the country to have hope, citing that there is a bright future ahead.
She expressed that the symbolic takeover at the British Embassy reflected the commitment of the partners toward Girl Child.
Kobi Bentley, Humanitarian and Development Director at the British Embassy, said that the Girls Take Over, which is done yearly in commemoration of the International Day of Girl Child aims at encouraging girls to take on leadership roles, and the importance of education
She promised that the embassy would continue to support all means to build a healthy and educated girl.
She called on the girls to continue with their studies to become future leaders who contribute to the transformation.
The International Day of the Girl Child was first declared by the United Nations in 2011, following a global campaign by Plan International, a child rights organization that launched the “Because I am a Girl” initiative.