By Ambrose Kweronda & Musinguzi Goodluck
Girls to Lead Africa has partnered with a group of Boda Boda riders in Kanungu District to work together to end teenage pregnancies and child marriages in the district.
On the other hand, Bodabodas have an organized network and hence can pass on information quicker than any other medium in rural areas like Kanungu where many people don’t have phones, connection to the internet, and TV coverage
The Executive Director of Girls to Lead Africa (GTLA) Honest Fortunate Kansiime said that they decided to engage the Boda Boda cyclists because they were found to be top among men who impregnate the girls.
Boda Bodas know the tactics men use to lure girls into formication since the Bodas use the same tactics and they are men themselves. So it becomes effective when we “set a thief to catch a thief”. We want them to respect these girls as their sisters or daughters.
Boda Bodas who are fathers to teenage girls will protect girls because they are protecting their daughters. If every bodaboda operator guards their daughter’s jealousy, girls will have an organized network of guards.
We have distributed free reflector jackets to all members of Girl-Safe Boda for easy identification. So when girls are looking for a boda to take them, they look out for a Girl-safe Boda because they are assured of their safety since a Girl-safe Boda won’t violate them.
Therefore, Girl-Safe Bodas will champion the fight against teenage pregnancies and child marriages. This will in turn ensure that many girls will resume schooling once schools reopen.
The same organization has distributed sanitary pads to 500 girls.
Even when schools are closed, sanitary pads are a basic need which the girls must-have. We provided reusable sanitary pads to 500 girls. Each girl received a packet that contained four reusable pads and a pouch for carrying the pads. This packet can take the girl for one year (12 menstrual cycles).