On Tuesday, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG), led by Social Development hosted deaf learners from around the province as part of the International Day for Girl Child Campaign to highlight their challenges which they confront on a day to day basis.
The program, hosted at Sizwile School for the deaf in Dobsonville in Soweto, was themed #LetHerBe.
Among those challenges raised by learners was child abuse, non-existence of alcohol and drugs awareness campaigns for deaf people, lack of declaration of sign language as an official language, public servants who are not empowered with sign languages, deficiency of sign language within the public transport system and how can the fourth industrial revolution assist people with disabilities access job opportunities.
These challenges were addressed by Social Cluster Departments officials which are Social Development, Education, Sports and Recreation, Health and Community Safety.
Girl Child Program coordinator Leonie Van der Merwe reading a letter she wrote for learners said, "We have brought various stakeholders to empower you as we intend to change the boy's mind-set to change their behaviour and respect girls' bodies and threat them with respect".
The program "Invest in a Girl Child and Empower a Young Woman Campaign" - is a Provincial Campaign aimed at highlighting challenges facing girl children and young women and to galvanize sustained action by multi-sectoral stakeholders to invest in girl children.
About 900 girl children from Deaf Schools around Gauteng attended as part of the International Day of Girl Child Campaign which is observed on the 11 October each year, and aims to promote girls' empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights.
Local Councillor Tebogo Mhlari promised to engage with the Office of the Speaker from the City of Joburg Municipality, Gauteng Legislature and Local Taxi Associations to address some of the transport issues raised during the campaign.
Government and stakeholders committed to come up with programs that will respond accordingly to issues raised.
Stakeholders who were present among others were Footprint, Girl Power South Africa, Wits University Language School, Deaf South Africa, Love-Life, Chubby Chums, and local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO's).