Geingos speaks up for children’s rights

FIRST Lady Monica Geingos has advised the youth to speak out and not be shy to ask questions about sex in order to avoid teenage pregnancies and contracting HIV-AIDS.

She said this during a ceremony where she received the Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up award at State House in Windhoek on Tuesday.

“You cannot be shy to discuss issues concerning you and protecting your life. Yes, we understand there is a lot of gossip and criticism against you. This is the time that the youth should stand up for each other because when you have a problem you talk to each other about it. Stop gossiping about each other and start shaping each others lives,” Geingos said.

Geingos was presented the award by renowned girl-child advocate, 13-year-old Zuriel Oduwole.

A special panel discussion under the theme ‘Adolescent Sexual Health and Rights’ was held at the same event. The panellists were Veronica Theron, Bravo Linosi, Emma Theofelous and Ayesha Wentworth.

Theron is a social worker with over 25 years of experience in child protection and gender-based violence while Linosi is the executive director of the Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (Nappa).

Theofelous is the deputy speaker of the children’s parliament and a champion against gender-based violence with USAID and Lifeline/Childline campaign. Wentworth is a clinical psychologist and deputy director for diagnostic advisory and training services in the programme quality assurance unit in the Ministry of Education.

They discussed topics ranging from what sexual exploitation is, to effects of sexual health and sexual education in schools.

“When we talk about sexual education, especially when it comes to teenage pregnancy, we only address the girls but it is time we engaged the boys as well. As young people we have questions about everything but we do not know where to go (for answers). There is stigma following us everywhere we go, from healthcare centres to schools,” said Theofelous.

Linosi said although not all nurses are trained to work or handle youth cases, training should be conducted for them to handle these cases with the utmost sensitivity and not to stigmatise young girls and boys seeking their help.

Pupils from different high schools around Windhoek attended the event and had an opportunity to give input.

“Trust for parents is lost when they sell off young girls for marriage. Your right to be a child is taken away from you at a time we need to be protected by our parents.

My other point is that there must be a virgin pledge that young girls and boys make and be awarded for it, maybe that will help in the decrease of teenage pregnancies,” said Indila Oherein, a Grade 12 pupil from David Bezuidenhout High School.

Oduwole, who presented the award to Geingos after the discussions, said she recognised African First Ladies who are making a difference in young people’s lives.

“The First Lady of Namibia is one of those first ladies and it is a true honour to present the first award for 2016 to her. To the youth, remember that the government will not solve all our problems. Let us do our part,” Oduwole said.

Oduwole was born to Nigerian and Mauritian parents. The advocate for girls’ education started the Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up project in March 2013 at the age of 10.

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