Young females in 20 communities empowered through project
Project to empower adolescent girls and young women on how best to address their own challenges has successfully ended.
The project, dubbed "Be Smart, Learn and Stay Protected", was implemented by Plan International Ghana with financial support from Nivea through the German National Office of Plan International.
It covered young females from two regions - Akuapem North in the Eastern Region, Jasikan in the Oti Region and the Upper Manya Krobo District, also in the Eastern Region.
In all, 20 communities were covered.
Challenges
The project was on the theme: "Empowered Girls, Learn and Get Protected from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). It enabled the females to go through the necessary aspects of education that will empower them to face challenges.
The participants in the closing ceremony in Koforidua
The initiative, which was carried out in two phases from February 2021-January 2023 and February 2023-January 2025, led to a reduction in teenage pregnancies, strengthened child protection structures, economic empowerment and increased girls’ participation in schools.
It also led to the reaffirmation of the notion of emphasis to be put at the right place on girls and children relating to the empowerment of families and communities.
In his address at a ceremony to end the project in Koforidua last Tuesday, the Country Director of Plan International Ghana, Professor Constant Tchona, said every girl had the right to education, to be heard, to be safe and to thrive.
Enabling environment
He indicated that Plan International's theory of change was not only to focus on the girl but on creating an enabling environment around her to be empowered to learn and protected from harm.
In view of that, Prof. Tchona stated that his outfit had worked tirelessly to ensure that adolescent girls, especially those facing the greatest challenges, such as sexual and gender-based violence, were given the opportunity to rise above their circumstances.
To support them in overcoming such challenges, the Plan International Ghana Country Director intimated that his organisation had set up adolescent clubs with centres as safe places for learning and growth.
That, he explained, had not only improved their conditions but also made their confidence soar.
Professor Tchona added that such girls formally limited by circumstances now possessed self-assurance to voice their opinions, pursue aspirations and stand tall against challenges faced.
He told the gathering that there had been a decrease in teenage pregnancies in the various communities covered.
Training
Professor Tchona stated that the training had protected the young females from sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and created an environment where they could learn, grow and feel secure.
According to the Country Director of Plan International Ghana, one of the most remarkable developments of the initiative had been the unwavering support of community leaders, chiefs, opinion and religious leaders, who not only lent their voices but also took bold action in refusing to preside over any form of injustice against girls, especially those just fined under the guise of culture and tradition.
He was of the view that such communities would no longer tolerate harmful practices affecting girls, adding that the rights of the girls would be upheld.
The girls, he said, had been provided apprenticeship training with start-up kits to start their own livelihoods, while parents were also being supported with loans to take up their responsibilities with dignity and confidence.
Prof. Tchona stressed that the journey had not been with challenges and hoped that the young females would no more face challenges that hitherto went against their progress.
Project Overview
The Project Manager of Be Smart, Learn and Stay Protected, Bless Kofi Vieku, who gave the overview of the project mentioned three out of the 20 communities that had been covered as Akateng in Upper Manya Krobo District, Mangoase in the Akuapem North Municipality and Okajakrom in the Oti Region.
He indicated that the project had significantly reduced teenage pregnancies among teenage girls in the beneficiary communities where the project operated.
Mr Vieku stated that the project was initiated in response to the worsening situation of gender inequalities, teenage pregnancies, school dropouts and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), among other issues.
He said the project had a total budget of €654,514 for two years, spanning February 2023 to January 2025, adding that adolescent clubs were established in all the 20 project areas and that each group comprised 15 girls and 10 boys.
Peer educators
Mr Vieku said 10 peer educators were selected from these clubs, consisting of seven girls and three boys, explaining that the peer educators were trained to lead adolescent-friendly activities aimed at improving their peers’ knowledge of adolescent growth and development, protection, risks, behaviours and proactive measures to prevent and protect themselves from abuse.
One of the beneficiaries from the Jasikan Municipality in the Oti Region, Amenuvor Deborah, told the Daily Graphic that the project had built her capacity with knowledge and skills to continue educating her colleagues to minimise or eradicate teenage pregnancy and sexual and gender-based violence in her municipality.
Writer's email: haruna.wunpini@graphic.com.gh
