Raising Confident Girls (RCG)
Facebook group is one year old this week. The
founder and CEO of Majestically Rare, Mrs Rita (RiRi) Okoye decided to create this
group to support the initiative that was already on the field. It was
birthed last year on the 15 September 2014 with only 200 women and today it has
over 7500 members. RCG has turned into an incredible movement as a means to
share ideas on how to raise girls confidently and tackle the issues they face
in the 21st century and my God have they tackled them. It’s a global movement with most members residing
in Lagos, Nigeria.
POWER TEAM
RCG is administered by RiRi
Okoye, Ladi Di, Damie Onasanya and Yinka Enahoro. The admin team are deeply
committed to providing and sharing valuable information that will help aid
girls. Members provide useful recommendations of
books, videos and audios. They celebrate successes of girls no matter how big
or small. There is also an opportunity for members to promote events for girls. On Sundays, a scripture from the Word is
shared regularly to help build the confidence of girls. Sometimes, fun competitions take place, like
Mother and daughter lookalikes.
DELICATE ISSUES
The movement has had
some delicate issues to tackle with, such as abortion, sex, teenage pregnancy, emotional
and physical abuse, bullying just to mention a few but thanks to advice from
members, lives have been impacted and changed. Members especially mothers have gained in
wisdom on tackling girl issues. A member shared a heart breaking story of how
she was molested at 8 years of age by an uncle but how the group has help her
open up and share her story. She said, “I have been reading all the posts on Raising Confident Girls group page
and it has really helped me deal with so many communication problems and it is
helping to build up my confidence as a woman and also a precious being”.
VALUABLE MEMBERS
The
movement would not have grown and expanded without member’s posts,
contributions and inviting their friends that share the
same values. Members regularly give advice to anyone who has a question or
concern about raising girls confidently. Members feel a real sense of belonging in RCG
and feel part of a valuable movement.
There were several outpourings of love on
the anniversary day. One member said, “Great
fraternising here, it has broadened my mind on what and how raising a girl
child means but most especially that I share a lot in common with quite a
number. Well done admin. To God be all the glory”. Another member said “Happy
anniversary to us I am glad to be part of this group, I am not so good with the
group thing because sometimes you will find out that some people are not on the
same page with you, but this group these women awesome, we can really make our
society and the world a better place if we keep doing this and practising it as
well, Kudos all”
ON THE FIELD
Last
year RCG organised a themed Christmas party for girls called ‘You are Valuable’
and guest speakers such as Chinyere Anokwuru author of ‘Who Says I can’t’ and
Mrs Stephany
Nwanmah, founder of Tehla Women Youth Empowerment Foundation, spoke
into the lives of girls alongside Rita Okoye. This year, there are plans for a big summit in
Lagos for members of the group and then more events in other countries where
members are largely located. Mrs Okoye has a column for the Guardian Newspaper
called Valuable YOU and a blog for girls called valuable.bloggerspot.com and
says that a lot of her stories are inspired by RCG group discussions.
THE
FUTURE
The movement’s vision is to be the Number 1 voice on FB for
Raising Confident Girls across the globe. In addition, there are plans to do more
work on the field and collaborate with NGO’s and government bodies.
Finally a note from RCG Admin Team - “Our wish for all girls, is
that they will stand up, shine, maximise their potential, walk confidently
knowing who they are and what they have to offer to the world because each and
every one of our girls is a valuable treasure, knitted together ever so
beautifully and fearfully and wonderfully made.”
