Parental involvement is an essential part of BRAC’s programs for adolescent girls. We want the important lessons that the girls learn in the clubs to be reinforced at home, and we also want parents to be aware of the issues that are important to their daughters.
Every month, BRAC holds parents’ or mothers’ forums specifically for the parents of the girls in BRAC’s adolescent clubs. I had the opportunity to visit a mothers’ forum while I was in Tanzania.
Beatrice, who is the Area Coordinator, and Hildi, who is the Adolescent Club Coordinator, conducted the meeting. The mothers were very animated and interested in what their girls were learning in the club.
The main issue of this forum was gender equality. Girls in Tanzania are often given lower priority when it comes to education and even food. When there is a food shortage, it is often the women who give up or take smaller meals. And while primary education in Tanzania is free, school supplies like notebooks and pencils are not. These necessities are prioritized for boys, but not for girls.
All of the mothers agreed that this was an issue they would enforce at home by discussing it with their entire family. Hildi stressed the importance of also bringing up their sons to respect girls and treat them as equals. The women recommended bringing this issue up in the following month’s parents’ forum, as it is important that fathers also hear about and stress gender equality in the home.
Some of the girl club members were also at the meeting, and it was inspiring to see them bringing up issues with their mothers without fear. They talked about early marriage and the problems of early pregnancy. They expressed their desire to continue their secondary education, but found the school books and materials to be too expensive.
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