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Add to Preferred SourcesMore than 67,000 girls between the ages of 6 and 17 years old from across Benin have this week received new shoes as part of a partnership with Batonga Foundation, TOMS and UNICEF.
Founder of Batonga Foundation and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angélique Kidjo has concluded a visit to her native Benin where she met some of the girls who received the shoes. During her visit, Angelique spoke with girls at the Parakou Mathieu Bouké school and delivered an empowering speech on the right to education to more than 300 students.
“Shoes are part of the pride felt by those who walk wearing them,” said UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angélique Kidjo. “Yet too many girls are missing out their education because they cannot afford the clothes and shoes required to go to school. We’ve seen a lot of progress in recent years, but a lot remains to be done to get every child in school and learning.”
Girls in Benin are most at risk of dropping out of school when making the transition from primary education to secondary education, with nearly 2 in 3 girls missing out on secondary school. Poverty is a key determining factor for girls’ education, with 43 percent of girls from the poorest households never stepping foot inside a classroom.
The partnership between the three organizations targets school-age children in the Alibori, Borgou and Zou regions of Benin, where girls are particularly vulnerable to missing out on their education.
“This donation is an important gesture to help keep girls in school, as it helps to reduce the costs that families incur in schooling,” said UNICEF Representative in Benin Dr. Claudes Kamenga. “Having a pair of shoes for a teenager can be a source of motivation to finish the school year with the hope of improving school learning.”
The Government of Benin and UNICEF are working together to address the root causes keeping girls from school, as well as provide protection and support services to keep children safe from harm.
Original source: UNICEF
Published on 10 October 2019