#BringBackOurGirls: Call for Action

Jainaba Faye shares with us the #BringBackourGirls event organised by Think Young Women (TYW)

Messages of solidarity at the event

The 200+ girls abducted from a government secondary school in the town of Chibok in Borno state, Nigeria from the 14^th April 2014 to date by the so-called Boko Haram group has become a global concern. Young people especially girls from all over the world are worried and terrified by this situation. A lot of campaign has been going on all over the world characterized by March passes, online campaigns and many more have taken center stage in the drive to rescue these innocent girls.

Think Young Woman  (TYW)- a young women led organization based in The Gambia took it upon themselves to organize a day program on the 23^rd May 2014 in showing our concern for the abducted girls. This was done with the support of Action-Aid International, The Gambia. Over 100 people from primary, junior and senior secondary schools, university of the Gambia, international students from the university of Texas, youth organizations and women rights activist alike graced the occasion.

The program started with individual prayers followed by the opening statement by Ms. Aisha Keita of TYW. She welcomed all the participants and emphasized on the importance of the event. She pointed out the fact that the whole world should be concerned about Boko Haram and that they are just based in Nigeria for now but could expand to other countries if not stopped with immediate effect. She thanked Action-Aid for partnering with TYW in this noble cause.

Another speaker for the event was Ms. Yewande Austin, a renowned American artist from MTV and BET to the historic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. An award winning lecturer, activist and honorary U.S Cultural Ambassador, Yewande is best known for her Humanitarian organization “The Change Rock Foundation”. She uses music and art to promote socio-economic development. She called for immediate actions by the Nigerian Government and the international community. She lamented on the issue that a lot of violence cases against women and children have been happening around the world and our leaders are not paying attention to them and that she feared the conditions that the girls are facing at that moment. Yewande presented her video documentary that show cased the work that she has been doing in Africa especially in Malawi to help bring education to the doors of every child. She informed the gathering that she is going to invest her life savings in Nigeria this year to help promote the rights of vulnerable especially girls.

Yewande with Jainaba

Statements were also made by the representative from Action-Aid and the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports.

L-R: Aisha Keita- Communications Officer, TYW, Yewande (Renowned Artist), Fanta Jatta-Sowe, Women's Rights Manager, AAITG; and Hon Alieu Jammeh, Minister, Youths and Sports

The plenary discussion followed suit and the participants raised their concerns and questions about the current situation. They also came up with recommendations and action points to be taken to bring back the girls. A drama on the issue at hand was played the Nova Scotia Gambia Associations showcasing the grieve of the families of the abducted girls.

Drama performance by NSGA

All the participants were then given white papers to write their own message that they want to put across to the Nigerian Government and the world at large. The invited guest and participants then went further to pen their signatures on the Banners to show how firm their stand is to get the girls back to their homes safe and sound.

TYW Programme Officer, Amie Kujabi

Madi Jobarteh, Programme Manager, TANGO showing solidarity

 The program ended with a music interlude by Killer Ace. A renowned Gambian Artist who recently released his album with a special track dedicated to the abducted Chibok girls. 

Killer Ace performing at the event