On the tenth day of their trip to Guinea, URBOND’s dedicated volunteers gathered at the community center at 8am, ready to bring to life the annual celebration for International Girls Day. Working alongside children, parents, and teachers, they prepared chairs, tables, and decorations for the event, aiming to underscore URBOND’s belief: education is a fundamental right for all, regardless of gender, background, or beliefs.
Education remains a critical mission for URBOND, particularly in addressing social issues like child marriage and child labour, which can disrupt young girls’ access to learning. The day’s agenda focused on sensitisation campaigns, designed to engage and educate parents about the importance of sustained education for all children. Highlighting this theme, the event also celebrated the opening of a new sewing centre, an initiative that has already provided full-time employment for five local mothers. This centre offers these women not only job security but also training and income, empowering them to support their children’s educational journeys.
By 10am, the sewing centre was ready for its grand opening. Local officials, community partners, and media representatives attended to witness the launch. Ousmane Drame, CEO of URBOND, delivered a heartfelt speech, emphasising the sewing centre’s significance in empowering local women and girls. Dubreka Prefecture General, Mr. Ali Camara, followed with words of appreciation, commending URBOND’s dedication to creating life changing opportunities for underprivileged children. The ceremony reached its climax with the ribbon cutting, marking a milestone in the community’s journey toward empowerment and growth.
Following a guided tour of the centre, guests enjoyed refreshments and networking. By then, everything was set for the main event back at the URBOND centre, where over 1,000 attendees, including local parents, eagerly awaited the celebrations. Three distinguished panelists, including Moussa Yéro Diallo, a prominent journalist and activist in Guinea, spoke passionately about URBOND’s impact. They emphasised the critical role of adults and parents in supporting children’s educational paths, as real change relies on community wide support.
Throughout the day, expressions of gratitude filled the air. A lively atmosphere was set as local artist Guastomic entertained the crowd with music that got everyone dancing and singing. The event wrapped up with certificate presentations, recognising individuals who have contributed significantly to URBOND’s mission, from seamstresses to IT trainees and community advocates.
The grand finale featured a volleyball exhibition match, Soumba vs. Conakry. The match, aimed at raising awareness for child education, thrilled the crowd and concluded with a score of 3-1 in Soumba’s favour. It was an inspiring end to a day that brought the community together, reaffirming the power of education, support, and celebration in building brighter futures for all.
