Comprehensive Review of Tall as the Baobab Tree From a Family Strengthening, Securing a Friendly and Protective Environment for Children®, and Rights-Based Parenting® Perspective

Introduction
Tall as the Baobab Tree is a powerful and poignant film that tells the story of two sisters, Coumba and Debo, in a rural Senegalese village. Set against the backdrop of tradition, family, and societal expectations, the film explores the tension between modern values and deep-rooted customs, particularly focusing on child marriage. The film provides an intimate look at how families and children navigate these societal pressures, making it an important study from the perspectives of Family Strengthening, Securing a Friendly and Protective Environment for Children®, and Rights-Based Parenting®.

• Release Year: 2012
• Director: Jeremy Teicher
• Country: Senegal
• Streaming Platforms: Available on Amazon Prime, Google Play, and other major streaming platforms.

Family Strengthening Perspective

From a Family Strengthening lens, Tall as the Baobab Tree offers valuable lessons on the roles of family support, unity, and the challenges faced in preserving familial bonds under external pressures. The film portrays how family traditions, such as arranged marriages, can create divisions, particularly when younger generations seek a different path.

Coumba, the older sister, struggles to protect Debo from the tradition of child marriage while also balancing her love and loyalty to her family. This reflects a key tension in the concept of Family Strengthening, where individual desires and familial obligations must be harmonized to ensure that all members feel supported.

The family structure in the film demonstrates both the power and limitations of collective decision-making, highlighting how empowerment and education can help build resilience in families. Coumba’s desire for education and financial independence is a testament to how knowledge and awareness can strengthen families, pushing them toward more progressive values.

Key Lessons:

• A family’s strength is deeply tied to its adaptability in changing societal conditions.
• Open dialogue and education within families are crucial in preventing practices that may harm children, such as child marriage.
• Family strengthening involves helping families create support systems that are aligned with their children’s well-being and future aspirations.

Securing a Friendly and Protective Environment for Children® Perspective

The core theme of Tall as the Baobab Tree—protecting Debo from child marriage—resonates strongly with the principles of securing a friendly and protective environment for children. The film starkly illustrates the dangers and emotional impact of child marriage, especially on the younger sister, Debo, who faces the prospect of a life far removed from education and autonomy.

The village’s traditional values, while deeply respected, are juxtaposed against the sisters’ desire for a different future. This struggle underscores the importance of community education and advocacy for child rights, which are central to creating a protective environment for children.

Coumba’s actions to protect her sister reflect a natural safeguarding instinct. However, this also points to the need for broader systemic changes—parents and communities must be educated on the long-term harm of early marriages and the importance of protecting children’s right to education, safety, and emotional well-being.

Key Lessons:

• It is essential to create a protective framework for children, even in traditional settings, that allows them to thrive and make autonomous decisions.
• Practices that endanger a child’s well-being, such as child marriage, should be critically examined and replaced with protective policies that emphasize education, health, and emotional security.
• Communities must be engaged and re-educated on child protection principles that safeguard children’s rights.

Rights-Based Parenting® Perspective

Rights-Based Parenting® emphasizes that every decision made by parents or guardians must be guided by the best interests of the child, respecting their inherent rights to education, protection, and self-determination. In Tall as the Baobab Tree, the family’s initial decision to marry Debo off is based on economic necessity and tradition, but it starkly contrasts with Debo’s right to a childhood free from exploitation and her right to education.

Coumba’s fight to protect her sister, despite societal pressure, exemplifies Rights-Based Parenting® in action. She sees her sister as an individual with rights and aspirations, rather than a commodity to be traded for financial gain. The film portrays the importance of empowering children, allowing them to be heard, and ensuring their well-being is prioritized, even in the face of cultural norms.

Key Lessons:

• Rights-Based Parenting® calls for parents to recognize their children as individuals with inherent rights, particularly the right to education, protection, and participation in decisions that affect their lives.
• Parental decisions should always be made with a long-term view, prioritizing the child’s future, autonomy, and well-being over short-term benefits.
• The film highlights how empowering parents with education and awareness can lead to more protective, rights-based approaches to raising children.

Conclusion

Tall as the Baobab Tree offers a compelling narrative on the complexities of tradition, family, and the rights of children, making it an important film for anyone interested in Family Strengthening, Securing a Friendly and Protective Environment for Children®, and Rights-Based Parenting®. The film serves as a powerful reminder that while family and cultural practices are essential components of identity and belonging, they must evolve to protect the rights and futures of children. Families, communities, and governments must work together to ensure that every child is raised in an environment where they are safe, heard, and empowered to shape their own destinies.