By Eleanor Gee

Takuilau College hosted celebrations today for International Day of Girl Child today, 11 October, under the theme “Girls Force: Unscripted and Unstoppable.”

The day brings attention to addressing the challenges that girls face world-wide as well as in Tonga.

Takuilau College students performed poems, singing, dancing, and drama, for the event  organized by the Talitha Project, an organization that aims to stop violence against women and girls.

The Talitha Project has been active in empowering girls and women and runs a 'drop-in' center that provides a safe and supportive meeting place for girls and young women to discuss issues they are facing. They also run development and empowerment activities.

Talitha Project founder Vanessa Heleta said Takuilau College at Lapaha was picked because many students had taken part in their programs.

“The focus is usually on schools based in Nuku’alofa and we should also empower rural girls,” she said.

Head Prefect

Takuilau College Head Prefect, ‘Ana Malia Falemaka (16), had taken part in the Talitha Project activities since she was 13-years-old.

‘Ana said she enjoyed the programs where girls could speak up about issues that many people did not know they were facing.

“They give us a platform where I can speak what I think, speak what I feel, and not be afraid that I’m wrong or that I’m going beyond the norms of the culture.”

“Throughout my journey with Talitha Project I have learned many skills, especially leadership skills. Not only from the projects but from Vanessa and the staff, with how they lead the programs," she said.

‘Ana represented the Talitha Project at a Pacific Girls Forum in Fiji in 2017, and in Thailand a few weeks ago. She spoke at the Habitat for Humanity [2] program in Thailand, on the impact Cyclone Gita had in Tonga affecting housing, and the importance of decent housing for children to have education, breaking the cycle of poverty.

'Ana also won the national school English prize last year.

Pacific Girl pilot program

The International Day of Girls is part of the Pacific Girl piloting program to support adolescent girls in the Pacific Island countries to achieve their full potentials. This program is under the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development (Pacific Women).

According to the United Nations, there is insufficient investment in the second decade of a girl's life to address challenges such as obtaining quality secondary or higher education, avoiding child marriage, protection against unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, gender-based violence and having access to information and services on puberty and reproductive health.