2 girls pose for the camera in fancy dress

13 February 2010: Plan Guinea-Bissau has held its 5th annual Children’s Carnival in Bafata, under the theme ‘Gender Equality.’

The main objective of this year’s carnival, sponsored by the EU, was to give the children an opportunity to publicly express their opinions on issues that affect them in their communities.

Through drama sketches, poetry and dances, the children gave their views on the importance of equal rights and opportunities for both girls and boys.

Girls also highlighted the problems affecting them such as poor access to education, sexual violence and forced marriage.

Before the carnival, 72 schools, bringing together nearly 2000 children, received training in children’s rights, through which they learnt the importance of gender equality and the positive impact girls can have on their communities and their society. For the main event, 9 schools from the Bafata and Gabu regions were selected to take part.

When Fatumata, a 13 year old girl who participated in the event, was asked about girls’ increasing participation in the community, she said: “Now everyone is talking about girls and looking at us differently. We feel more important now. It is working!”

Local radio stations Radio Comunirtaria de Bafata and Radio Sol Mansi covered the event live, allowing the children’s message to reach all the communities of Bafata.