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Transcript/ScriptMozambique Girls' Education - Sualehe
HEADLINE: Program to Help Mozambican Girls Face Challenges, Pursue Education
TEASER: USAID is funding an education program to reduce dropout rates
PUBLISHED AT: 03/16/2023 at 12:30pm
BYLINE: Adina Sualehe
WRITER: Salem Solomon
DATELINE: NAMPULA, MOZAMBIQUE
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA,
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 2:39
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[In Mozambique, girls often drop out of school due to teen pregnancy, forced
marriages, poverty, sexual violence and abuse. To help combat the problem,
the U.S. Agency for International Development is providing millions of dollars over five
years to promote girls' education. Adina Sualehe has this story narrated by Salem
Solomon.]]
((NARRATION))
When a 15-year-old Mozambican student became pregnant, she stopped going to
school.
The girl – who did not want to be identified because of the stigma – lives in the
Murrupula district of Nampula province, in Mozambique.
((Teenage Mother)) ((Female, in Portuguese))
“I felt ashamed to go to school because I was pregnant, so I dropped out to look after
myself during the pregnancy. Last year and this year I didn't enroll because I was taking
care of my son.”
((NARRATION))
Teenage girls face challenges getting an education in the Mozambique’s Nampula and
Zambezie provinces due to teen pregnancy, forced marriages, poverty, and sexual
harassment, says activist Silvina Covane.
((Silvina Covane, Activist)) ((Female, in Portuguese))
“Some parents want their daughters to marry early and stop going to school. We know
that when a girl marries early, there is no way to avoid pregnancy. And we also have the
problem of distance, lack of money and transportation.”
((NARRATION))
To help, the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, is providing
over 10 million dollars towards an educational initiative for more than 200,000 girlsin 12
districts across both provinces over five years.
Peter Hendrick Vrooman, the U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique says the program,
which began in 2022, is good for girls and benefits the economy.
((Peter Hendrick Vrooman, US Ambassador to Mozambique)) ((In English))
“Basic education is important for the development of every family in Mozambique and in
the world. Gender equality and participation in education can empower girls to
participate in their economic life.”
((NARRATION))
Tassiana Tome is the program director for the Advancing Girls’ Education program
which is aimed at girls aged 10 to 19.
((Tassiana Tome, Advancing Girls’ Education Program in Africa)) ((Female, in
Portuguese))
“There are nine compulsory classes, and this is part of a program that aims to increase
the number of girls who complete basic education.”
((NARRATION))
The program aims to encourage girls to stay in school.
Manuel Bazo, the country’s deputy minister of education, says communities and families
must also get more involved.
((Manuel Bazo, Deputy Minister of Education and Human Development)) ((Male, in
Portuguese))
“... every effort is being made so that all children enter school at the age of six. And
efforts are being made to keep these children in school.”
((NARRATION))
According to USAID, while 94% of girls in Mozambique enroll in primary school, more
than half drop out by the fifth grade. Only 11% graduate and a mere 1% continue to
college.
((For Adina Sualehe in Nampula, Mozambique, Salem Solomon, VOA News.)
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
NAMPULA, MOZAMBIQUE
Embargo DateMarch 16, 2023 16:54 EDT
Byline
((For Adina Sualehe in Nampula, Mozambique, Salem Solomon, VOA News.))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
