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The Road Ahead…..

We are just about a week and a bit into 2021 as I sit down to write this blog post. It is a New Year and this comes with the usual hope, dreams and resolutions. 2020 was a challenging year for most, as the world was hit with an unprecedented and unplanned event resulting in a very different world from what most people were familiar with. It was a trying time for people, families, businesses, educational institutions, governments, etc. 

Due to disruption in the educational sector as a result of the pandemic in 2020, Yellow Rose Launch Pad (YRLP) was unable to undertake the annual scholarship scheme as part of the LAUNCH scheme which is a competitive scheme open to senior secondary school students studying STEM subjects. The awardees of this scheme are selected based on academic performance and demonstration of personal leadership. This scheme is expected to be reinstated this year.

In order to continue with YRLP’s outreach despite the impact of the pandemic, YRLP set up the LIFT scheme in 2020 which is open to girls at all levels of secondary school who are at risk of not continuing in full time education due to adverse socio-economic factors. These factors are include but not limited to the following: a lack of funds, domestic or emotional abuse, threat of early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and homelessness. YRLP collaborated with a local charity CEE-HOPE to provide and distribute ‘Keepgirlsinschool’ kits, with each kit comprising of writing materials, sandals, reading lamp and 6 months’ supply of sanitary pads. These kits were distributed to girls at risk across the country. It is an initiative that YRLP is very proud of.

We do not know what the year 2021 will bring, but we hope it is a year full of hope, healing, restoration and progress. As for YRLP, we will continue to support young girls through both our LAUNCH and LIFT schemes.

To our existing ‘yellow roses’ and all the young girls out there, we repeat the slogan ‘Dream big because you can do it’.

Happy New Year!!! everyone and may the road ahead be bright.

Yvonne (on behalf of YRLP team)

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Celebrating the International Day of the Girl

Girls at the CEE-Hope Head office at the International Day of the Girl Event hosted on the 11th of October 2020

Every year, the International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated on the 11th of October. This day of observance was declared by the United Nations and first celebrated for the first time on the 11th of October 2012. The day was instituted to support more opportunity for the girl child and to create awareness of gender inequality still faced by girls worldwide based on gender.

A huge number of girls in countries round the world continue to experience severe challenges to access education, health care, nutrition and protection from discrimination and it is vitally important that we continue to focus on improving lives of young girls, to give them the opportunity to complete education and achieve independence.

This year, Yellow Rose Launch Pad partnered with Cee-Hope Nigeria to provide ‘Keep- Girls-in-School-Kits’ to 60 girls located in 4 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – Lagos, Ogun, Ebonyi and Benue states. This package of basic necessities were selected to ensure that teenage girls have a fighting chance to stay in school and complete their education.

Contents of one of the Keep-Girls-in-School-Kits

One of the components in the kit is a 6 months supply of menstrual hygiene products or sanitary pads as they are popularly called in Nigeria. Through working with Cee-Hope on a documentary that was produced for world menstrual hygiene day, Anuli Marshall a co-founder of Yellow Rose launch Pad became aware of the negative impact that period poverty has on the lives and educational chances of teenage girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is well documented that young girls routinely sell their bodies to be able to afford menstrual care products. The unfortunate outcome is that some girls fall pregnant which curtails their educational progress. For the girls who are lucky enough not to fall pregnant, these experiences may alter the way they value their bodies, and they may come to see their bodies as an item that can be battered in exchange for money or material goods, also a terrible outcome.

The Yellow Rose Launch Pad continues to be committed to removing barriers to girls achieving their educational dreams by providing access to basic supplies including sanitary pads and will continue to work with CEE-Hope to reach young girls in need. Our aim is to keep as many girls in full-time education as they go through this critical period of development. We also call on the Nigerian government, policy makers, the private sector and international organizations to continue to prioritize education for females by removing barriers that keep girls away from school.

Ensuring that the girl child receives the right education will unlock diverse potential that is critical for solving economic and social problems faced in many communities today. We stand with every supportive person, community and organization to celebrate the value of our female children.

Happy International Day of the Girl Child 2020.

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2019 Yellow Roses selected

Chinedu Praise of UNN Secondary School Nsukka
Chidimma of UNN Secondary School Nsukka

YRLP is pleased to announce the award of financial scholarships to 5 successful candidates in 2019, including Chidimma and Chinedu Praise pictured above.

We are truly amazed at the caliber of candidates that we had the pleasure to interview this year. We are filled with excitement from discovering the amazing young female talent that exists in Nigeria, and we have been energized by their confidence and ambition to succeed . These young ladies demonstrated a spirit of academic excellence and spoke powerfully about their achievements to date, and their future potential.

It is only the second year of our operation, and we were delighted to receive applications from outside Lagos. We want more young girls to know that this is not a Lagos or Abuja-centered scheme, and anyone can apply. Our structure and use of technology will allow any female with access to the internet to be able to apply and compete for a place on the scheme.

We have an exciting year ahead planned for the girls. Our plan is to help our yellow roses develop soft skills that will help them to be truly competitive in globalized markets of the future. If you are interested in becoming a yellow rose of the future, or you know a young girl who could benefit, please find out the details of how to apply here

Many congratulations to the 5 successful candidates including Chidimma and Chinedu Praise pictured in this post, and wishing you all the best for the year ahead.

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Scholarship Application Deadline Extension

 

Hey all, Good news!!! This is just a quick post to let you all know that we have decided to extend the application deadline by three weeks, it now closes on the 10th of August.

We made this decision to ensure that the word gets out to as many people as possible, giving more people the opportunity to apply, since this is our year of inception.

So off you go, spread the news and apply if you meet the criteria.