Kids Advocacy Network (KAN), a local child and women advocacy organization in the country, will organize their seventh Annual National Girls Empowerment Forum on Monday 10th to Friday 14th October 2022 in Celebration of the International Day of Girls at the Bank of Sierra Leone Complex in Freetown, on the theme: “If not us, Who? If not now! When? Protect Girls, End Gender Based Violence for a brighter future.” Keynote Speaker, Hon. Manty Tarawallie, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs.

According to the Executive Director of KAN, Edmond Alim B. Fornah, the National Girls Empowerment Forum (NaGEF) is an educative forum aimed at bringing together teenage girls all over the country and from different background and provide them the opportunity to be informed and motivated by exemplary young and adult women who have excelled in their various careers in life, especially those from humble backgrounds, despite the various challenges they faced in their journey through life.

Fornah said the idea is to trigger their spirit, increase their thinking capacity and build their confidence for the actualization of their dreams and also break the chain of violence against women and girls.

The NaGEF participants will also discuss factors responsible for the hindrance of the girl child empowerment and sought to proffer recommendations which are to be presented to the government on how they can be tackled.

The forum also aims at bringing government officials, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, U N Agencies teachers and private sector players, among others, together to sign their commitment in promoting girls and also promote peace before, during and after the 2023 elections.

Mr. Fornah said the objective of the forum is to work towards empowering girls and impact them with self-confidence to break the chain of violence and abuse against women and girls.

He stated that the National Girls Empowerment Forum will be both educative, entertaining and interactive.