I am somebody (Life skills 14-19‪)‬ Sierra Leone MBSSE

Today’s episode will focus on the story called Dreaming Again, from the Brac reader series.

In today’s story we will hear about a young adult Sallay who is married with two young children. Sallay had a tough start when a tragedy during her childhood changes the course of her life. She grows up in a community where it is common for girls not to finish school, where child marriage is rife and where girls too often start child bearing at a young age. Can Sallay achieve her dreams?

After this episode, you will be able to:

1. Explain the difference between sex and gender

2. Define what is meant by gender inequality

3. Be inspired by a story of a woman who started to change gender stereotypes in her community

4. Explain some of the benefit of greater gender equality

We would like to thank Brac Sierra Leone for sharing the Girls Reader Series stories with us for the radio teaching programme. You can contact them directly for the printed copies of this wonderful set of 11 short stories.

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.

Today’s episode will focus on the story called Is it my dream?  

This story is about a 15 years old girl called Musu who has big dreams of learning a livelihood skill. Musu agreed to leave her home in a small village, with a promise from her auntie to help her fulfil her dreams of starting a new career. Will Auntie Maria keep her promise?

After this episode, you will be able to:

1. Define child labour and know what the law says about child rights

2. Consider how being determined to fulfil your dreams can help you succeed

3. Explain some of the signs of stress and how to cope with stress



We would like to thank Brac Sierra Leone for sharing the Girls Reader Series stories with us for the radio teaching programme. You can contact them directly for the printed copies of this wonderful set of 11 short stories.

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.

Today’s episode will focus on the story called The Dancing Queen, from the Brac reader series.

The story explores the topics of adolescent motherhood and how this affects girls’ choices. The story is about a teenage mother called Sheama who hoped to be a professional dancer and singer with her own group and musical instruments. But with all the obstacles, the big question is will she fulfill her dreams?

After this episode, you will be able to:

1) Define family planning and describe some of the barriers to accessing drugs and things to prevent pregnancy

2) Consider the consequences of teenage motherhood on life choices for adolescents

3) Describe how family planning services can be accessed during corona crisis

We would like to thank Brac Sierra Leone for sharing the Girls Reader Series stories with us for the radio teaching programme. You can contact them directly for the printed copies of this wonderful set of 11 short stories.

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.

Today’s episode will focus on the story called Broken Promise from the BRAC reader series. 

This story is about a 15 years old girl called Nafisatu, who agrees to marry a man twice her age when he makes a promise to her mother. Nafisatu has no choice in whether to get marries since that was her father's decision. Will her new husband keep his promise?

After this episode, you will be able to:

1. Define child, early and forced marriage

2. Consider how child marriage can have serious consequences for adolescent girls in Sierra Leone

3. Explain how married couples can make use of family planning

We would like to thank Brac Sierra Leone for sharing the Girls Reader Series stories with us for the radio teaching programme. You can contact them directly for the printed copies of this wonderful set of 11 short stories.

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.

Today’s episode will focus on the story called You Think You Know, from the Brac reader series. In the story, a 15 year old school girl named Yeama tries to be like her smart well-dressed best friend Nakama. Does she take her friend’s advice so that she too can enjoy new shoes, clothes and bags? Does she consider the consequences?

After this episode, you will be able to:

1) Explain what is meant by the term transactional sex

2) Consider how peer influence and desire for material things can have serious consequences for adolescent girls in Sierra Leone

3) Describe some of the consequences of teenage pregnancy

We would like to thank Brac Sierra Leone for sharing the Girls Reader Series stories with us for the radio teaching programme. You can contact them directly for the printed copies of this wonderful set of 11 short stories.

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.

Today’s episode will focus on the story called To Dare and to do, from the Brac reader series.  In the story is about a promising young adolescent girl called Yata who is so desperate is further her education and in the future to become one the most influential women in the society. But her father believes that the girl child should not continue to go to school after taking the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and instead should get married and start a family. Will Yata be able to achieve her dreams?

After this episode, you will be able to:

1. Define the term gender

2. Describe how the story of Yata helps us understand how gender inequality affects adolescent girls in Sierra Leone.

3. Explain how educating a girl can help the nation

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.