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Sarah Lenggu 'takes over' gubernatorial seat in celebration of International Girl Child's Day
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Girl empowerment: Sarah Wilhelmina Lenggu 'takes over' Frans Lebu Raya's gubernatorial seat in the celebration of this year’s International Day of the Girl Child in Kupang, NTT, on Oct.3. (JP/Djemi Amnifu)
T
his year’s International Day of the Girl Child has been celebrated in a unique fashion in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), where Sarah Wilhelmina Lenggu on Tuesday ‘took over’ the position of Frans Lebu Raya as the province’s governor.
Serving as a one-day ‘governor’, Sarah led a meeting attended by implementing organizations within the NTT administration to discuss efforts to prevent child marriage, which remains a major problem in the province.
Sarah has been selected among several teenage girls across NTT to play a central role in the International Day of the Girl Child celebration jointly held by the province’s administration and Plan International Indonesia, an NGO concerned with needy children.
“The event, entitled ‘Becoming a one-day NTT governor,’ aims to convince Indonesia’s government, especially the NTT administration, to support our girl children to be willing to MAJU,” said Plan International Indonesia communications manager Isni Ahmad in Kupang.
MAJU is an abbreviation of Mau belajar (Willing to study), Jadi pemimpin (Willing to become a leader), Ambi keputusan (Dare to take a decision) and Untuk berhasil (For a successful future).
“Every Oct.11, the global community celebrates the International Day of the Girl Child, which is on the permanent agenda of the UN. This agenda is an opportunity to show commitment from all parties to protect and empower girls across the world,” said Isni.
On Oct.11, Sarah and 21 other girls from across Indonesia will gather at the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry in Jakarta. They will act as ‘minister’ and the ministry’s ‘staff members’ for one day. (mar/ebf)
