Imbuto Foundation and its education policy

IMBUTO Foundation’s selfless support for the rights and education of girls is impressive. The move by the foundation to emancipate girls is unprecedented. Patriarchy has been dominating the society to an extent that even the languages we use have been tilted in such a way that they have always oppressed and stripped women naked. For instance, in giving the titles of women, English language was created in such a way that a man, whether married or not is always addressed as Mr. while a woman will be analyzed as Mrs. and Miss. The question that many gender activists have asked is, why is it important that women should be grouped as married or not? Historically, women have been treated superficially and given subservient roles in a men dominated world. They have always been treated as second and lesser members of society yet even God has destined all humanity to be equal in his kingdom. Gender discrimination is so ingrained and entrenched in our societies that “exhuming” it has become painstaking and elusive. Unimaginable atrocities against women have continued unabated even with the intensification of gender awareness across the globe. In a certain Northern Kenyan pastoralist community, women have no right to decide whether or not to vote and who to vote for if at all they do. Some men from the communities interviewed by some media houses confessed that severely whipping their wives was a norm and they did it at will. Some African literature is also partly to blame for the predicament of girls child. A number of African writers have subordinated women in their works. The play entitled, The Burdens, by John Ruganda studied by “A” level literature students in Rwanda tells it all. As much as the writer has done his best to expose the predicament of the women, he does nothing to empower the thought to be weak gender. Tinka, the wife of Wamala is on the receiving end of domestic violence caused by her husband. The writer does nothing to show that women can get out of this and stand on their own. Imbuto Foundation has done great by unearthing the challenges facing girl such as; early marriages and pregnancies, exposure to intimidation, sexual harassment and poverty among others. In a prize giving ceremony organized by the foundation that took place at Nyamirambo stadium last Sunday, more than 400 girls were honored for their exemplary performance in last year’s national examinations. The future torch bearers of the nation were encouraged to exude confidence in all that they do. And in black and white, bold and clear was that girls and women can do what men do. Safeguarding and jealously protecting the future of girls places an enormous responsibility on you and me. znyamosi@yahoo.com