Marathon raises awareness against early, forced marriages
Traditional harmful practices such as early and forced marriages are some of the major causes of girls dropping out school at an early age in many African societies.
In Senegal, the southeastern region of Tambacounda is one area where the rate of girls dropping out of school is alarmingly high. Thousands of girls are out of school as a result.
It is against this backdrop that the US Peace Corps volunteers in the region in collaboration with a local association in Tambacounda, SCOFI organized a mini-marathon to raise awareness and funds to help underprivileged girls in Secondary and High Schools in the region, in order to prevent them from quitting school.
The event which took place over the weekend in Tambacounda was attended by government representatives, Ngo’s, local authorities as well about 50 US Peace Corps.
Amanda Lylon is a US peace Corp Volunteer in Rural Health Education and she tells WADR’s Alpha Jallow, that the funds raised from the marathon will be used to support the education of some 200 girls in the area who come from impoverished families.
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