Seated L-R are Sr. Jane Wakahiu, LSOSF, Ph.D., Hilton Foundation Associate Vice President and Head of Catholic Sisters (in white), Fr. Charles Chilufya S.J. – Chairman Bakhita Partnership for Education, Mrs. Simone Yankey – Ag Director AU International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education in Africa (AU CIEFFA)
The Chairman of the Bakhita Partnership for Education Fr. Chilufya is afraid that an estimated number of 110 million girls and young women could miss school by 2030 if education stakeholders fail to speak in one voice.
Speaking as he reflected on the progress made in championing for education among African girls at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 78) Fr. Charles Chilufya, noted that many nations remain significantly behind, or even off-course, in meeting targets for gender equality and educational access.
“The 78th session of the represents the mid-point towards the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline. However, many nations remain significantly behind, or even off-course, in meeting targets for gender equality and educational access. In fact, the UN Women and UN DESA’s 2023 gender snapshot report unveiled just few days ago, revealed that if current trends are to go by, an estimated 110 million girls and young women across the world will be out of school in 2030, while the SDG indicators aimed at women’s equality will not be met.”,
Present at the event, Fr. Chilufya urged key stakeholders, including UN Women, AU CIEFFA, the Conrad Hilton Foundation, Catholic Religious Sisters, among others, to collaborate on transforming education in Africa.
A Kenyan survivor of abuse Ms. Brenda Karimi, highlighted her catalytic impact on championing education when she narrated her traumatic experience into a force for positive change by leading the Smart Girl Mentorship Programme, mentoring girls throughout Africa.
The summit that sidelined the UNGA event, in partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and African Union International Centre for Girl and Women Education (AU-CIEFFA) hosted a compelling event on Gender Responsive and Transformative Education in New York, where two hundred globally acclaimed experts in education and various leaders of the Catholic religious sisters and the Jesuit Network in Africa and beyond attended.
About two hundred globally acclaimed experts in education and various leaders of the Catholic religious sisters and the Jesuit Network in Africa and beyond attended the event both in person and online.
The African Union Commission was represented at the event by its International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education in Africa (AU CIEFFA). The acting Director, Mrs. Simone Yankey, conveyed their message to the attendees who noted, “The AU CIEFFA was in its 3rd Strategic implementation cycle underpinned by 4 focus areas namely; Gender Responsive Education Frameworks, Curriculum reform and Teacher Education, Science, Technology, Engineering & Arts Skills Development, and Education in Emergence and humanitarian context.”