The "Je roule pour plus de filles à l'école" (I Ride for More Girls in School) caravan has embarked on a journey across Gabon, visiting localities such as Cap Estérias, Lebamba, Mouila, Lambaréné, Kango, and Ntoum from November 6 to 14. This initiative, led by the Institut de la Francophonie pour l'éducation et la formation (IFEF) in partnership with the Ministry of National Education, aims to provide educational resources to areas with limited access to such materials.
The initiative recognizes that not everyone has access to the internet or distance learning opportunities, despite the existence of educational resources. According to Mona Laroussi, Director of IFEF, the goal is to bring training to those who need it most. The caravan is equipped with resources and will provide training to teachers, sensitization sessions for students, and advocacy for parents.
The Reliefh platform, launched in 2019, offers nearly 2 terabytes of free educational resources on equality between men and women, targeting teachers. To further expand access, IFEF plans to provide a Raspberry Pi 4 device to schools, which can connect over 300 users within a 300-meter radius without requiring an internet connection.
The initiative targets three main groups: students, parents, and teachers. Students will participate in sensitization sessions, while parents will be engaged in advocacy efforts. Teachers will receive training to better integrate equality between men and women into their pedagogical practices.
To ensure the initiative's impact is sustained, tutors and female tutors from Gabon will be responsible for follow-up activities in schools after the caravan departs. This approach aims to prolong the actions initiated and ensure their appropriation by local communities.
Gabon is the fifth country to host this initiative, which has previously visited Senegal, Mauritania, Benin, and Togo. The goal is to make equality in education a reality, even in the most remote areas.
The caravan's efforts are part of a broader strategy to address educational challenges in Gabon, particularly in rural areas where access to resources and educational opportunities can be limited. By providing equal access to education, the initiative hopes to promote social and economic development in these regions.
Key points
- The initiative aims to provide educational resources to remote areas, focusing on promoting equality between girls and boys in education.
- The Reliefh platform offers nearly 2 terabytes of free educational resources on equality between men and women, targeting teachers.
- The initiative will provide follow-up support through tutors and female tutors from Gabon to ensure the sustainability of the actions initiated.
