Omolabake Fasogbon
The Mum 2 Mum Global Foundation has gathered the Teens and Tweens across Lagos State for a one-day summit to address social issues among them.
The summit themed, “My mind, my Power; My body, My Right “offered a platform for children in both primary and secondary schools to connect with seasoned educationists and counsellors to discuss, ask questions shared personal experiences, and learn from the adults wealth of experience.
Founder of Mum 2 Mum, Chinenye Jerry-Amah noted that the summit was in lined with the vision of the foundation which existed to address intimate issues between mothers and children, teachers and children as well as children, through advocacy, supports, counselling and charity works.
Jerry worried about the lack of functioning guidance and counselling unit in schools which she said contributed greatly to social ills in the country today.
According to her, children are in their formative years which are mostly spent in school, hence, the need for them to be heard and guided. She urged government to make the G&C unit a major prerequisite for approval of schools.
She said, “Most of the things that happen in the society affect teenagers, yet, they are given less attention. The teens and tweens are confronted with issues like peer pressure, molest and misunderstanding with parent, e.t.c, that they want to talk about but have no means to do , as such bottle up their experiences or better still, resort to the social media for answers to questions which sometimes might give misleading answers.
“At Mum 2 Mum Global Foundation, we provide platform for such intimate discussion. We want to have a platform where these ones can freely express self when their parent are not there, ask questions and get answers.
The founder further suggested the inclusion of mind power in schools curriculum as she said this would go in pari passu with children’s career to affect the society positively.
She also urged parent to always pay attention to children and watch their non-verbal cues.
“It is not every time that one beats a child for manifesting unwanted attitude, this may actually come from a precedence”
Some highlights of the maiden summit included: quiz competition, lecture, talk, debate and dance, among others.
