Affirmation: I AM SEEN

At EarlyBird256, we use affirmations in our programs to empower young girls to use their voices and take up more space. The communities we work with face so many social and economic challenges that this can be very hard to do. We start by reminding the girls that they matter, that they are seen, and that they are important. That is what #DoingLittleThingsWithPassion means to us.

Everyone has a birthday, and when that day comes, that person is celebrated by family and friends. Sometimes your doctor’s office or favorite business will send you a birthday email or coupon. But for millions of children in Sub-Saharan Africa, this is impossible because they do not know their birthdays. According to UNICEF, in 2018 there were 95 million children across Sub-Saharan Africa whose births were not registered. It was estimated that these numbers will soar to 115 million by 2030, and that was before the effects of COVID-19. 

Possession of a birth certificate is even less common. There are 120 million African children under the age of five who do not have birth certificates. Roughly three out of four of these children live in countries where there are birth registration fees. The following ten countries do not have fees for birth registration: Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Chad, Sudan, Namibia, Senegal, Gabon, and Zimbabwe. 

After releasing this data, UNICEF called on African countries and African ministers responsible for civil registration to prioritize birth registration. Not having proof of identity, age, or nationality leaves children vulnerable to violations such as child marriage, child labor, and recruitment to armed forces. 

When it comes to child marriage, although most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have set the minimum legal age for marriage at 18 or above for both sexes, there are still 23 countries that have not. In these countries, home to 86 million girls, marriage before the age of 18 is allowed with parental consent or under special circumstances.

Despite the numerous challenges, the best way to combat the birth-registration issue is through interworking with other social sectors. For example, health and childcare-delivery services such as immunization campaigns can increase the registration of children born in health facilities and at home. The children must be registered and accounted for.