Seychelles minister attends 3rd FAWE International Conference on Girls' Education |05 December 2023
- Pushes for gender equality and redefining education
The Minister for Youth, Sports and Family, Marie Celine Zialor, has reiterated the need to create space for men and boys in gender discussions stressing on the need for ‘men –allyship’.
Minister Zialor was speaking at the 3rd FAWE International Conference on Girls' Education held last week in Nairobi, Kenya.
The minister was invited to be key speaker at the two-day event held at the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel.
“Too often in the conversations around empowerment of women and girls, we leave the men and the boys out. The real reasons for many of the gender disparities in Africa can be attributed to the men and their beliefs, as well as their traditions. We will make no progress or fail if we continue to leave them out of the conversations; we need to influence boy’s education so that they think and they do different than their forefathers,” said Minister Zialor.
The minister stressed the need to redefine masculinity in Africa. “We need to convince African fathers that it is wise to educate their girls, you will notice that I am purposefully saying educate and not just send to school. African men and boys will need to be educated about the benefits of empowering the African girl child and they need to be told what’s in it for them. Everybody will need to be re-educated about making a space for each other on this blue and green planet,” said Minister Zialor.
She emphasised the transformative power of education, and how crucial it was for Africa to embrace this very powerful tool, but using a more modern approach.
“Governments and their partners must invest more in education, not just the traditional formal investment in schools but in addition to that, advocacy community projects and programmes have to be put in place. Committed efforts towards resources mobilisation needs to be given more priority to ensure successful and timely implementation,” said the Seychelles’ Minister for Youth, Sports and Family.
Minister Zialor highlighted Seychelles’ actions and contributions to transform education in Africa, such as reviving of SAWOPE, the local FAWE chapter, initiating discussions about ‘men- allyship’, about redefining masculinity as well as committing resources to these causes in 2024 and reaching out for support to various local and international partners.
The conference held under the theme, ‘Transforming Education Systems in Africa: What Works!’ was attended by over 300 delegates from all over Africa.
The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is a membership-based pan-African non-governmental organisation that operates through 34 national chapters in sub-Saharan Africa to promote girls’ and women’s education. FAWE’s vision, mission and goal are all resolute on the well-being of girls’ education. FAWE’s regional secretariat is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Seychellois Simone De Comarmond is the current chair of FAWE’s board of directors. In her address to open the conference, Mrs De Comarmond highlighted the importance of such gatherings. “This momentous occasion brings together brilliant minds, passionate advocates, and future leaders who share a common commitment to advancing education for girls across the continent. Education is not merely a gateway to knowledge; it is the cornerstone of empowerment, a catalyst for change, and a key to unlocking the full potential of individuals and societies. In the context of Africa, where the resilience and spirit of its people are boundless, providing quality education to girls is an investment in a brighter, more equitable future for the entire continent,” said Mrs De Comarmond.
The former Minister for Education said that the theme of this conference reflected collective aspiration to move beyond rhetoric and explore tangible, effective strategies for shaping educational landscapes that foster gender equality, inclusivity, and innovation.
“Our goal is not just to identify what works but to implement and scale up these successful initiatives across the continent. We aim to turn conversations into actions, that will have a lasting impact on the lives of girls and young women in Africa,” said Mrs De Comarmond.
Prior to the conference, Minister Zialor attended a ministerial meeting presided by the host country’s cabinet secretary in charge of the Ministry of Education, Ezekiel Machogu, and was also a guest speaker on a panel discussion moderated by Her Royal Highness Majesty Queen Nozizwe Ka Mulela-Zulu.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of Minister Zialor’s participation at the 3rd FAWE International Conference on Girls' Education in Nairobi, Kenya.
