'One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen...'

“Let us pick up our books and our pens. They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution.” – Malala Yousafzai.

At Solutions for Life Initiative – Ghana we are passionate about enforcing these powerful words spoken by 16 year old Malala Yousafzai in her address to the United Nations earlier this year. Education IS the only solution. That is why when asked by the Afia Kobi Ampeme Girls Senior High School (AKAGSHS) to talk to their students about the opportunities that education can give them, SFLIG jumped at the chance.

Set amongst luscious grounds, AKAGSHS is an all-girls school with over 2000 pupils. On Tuesday, SFLIG was lucky enough to speak to over 700 of their Form One students in their week long orientation program. The theme of the day was education – particularly the importance of it; the ways in which it can transform their lives and the barriers that can prevent them from achieving their educational goals.

SFLIG used stories of inspirational women such as Ghanaian politician - Betty Mould-Iddrisu, 16 year old Pakistani student -Malala Yousafzai and the 24^th President of Liberia - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to highlight how education has changed the lives of these role models. These stories also taught the students about dedication and commitment – qualities that are particularly evident in President Ellen Sirleaf’s story. At the age of 17 Sirleaf was married with four young boys. Whilst the rest of her classmates were moving on to higher education in Liberia and the United States, she was left caring for her family. It was at this moment that Sirleaf developed her goal to become educated – an educated she became. With a degree in accounting and a master’s in public administration, Sirleaf demonstrates that whilst you may meet obstacles on your road to realizing your educational goal, you should never give up on them.

SFLIG also used questions to interact with and engage the girls. These interactions showed young women who are articulate, intelligent and ready to take on the world!  An activity where SFLIG asked selected students to provide advice to their fellow classmates highlighted these qualities even further and reinforced the idea that in order to achieve your goals you must remain focussed, be critical in the choices you make concerning friends and boys and keep your faith in God.

It was a privilege for SFLIG to facilitate this workshop! If these girls are to be our future leaders than we have no doubt that the world will be a better place.      

 

'I have decided to be educated...'

There is something uplifting about hearing 100 teenage girls singing ‘I have decided to be educated, I have decided to be educated, I have decided to be educated…no turning back, no turning back’! These were the words that were sung by over 100 girls at the Atwima Kwanwoma Focal Girls workshop held in the Foase district. Run by the Girl’s Education Unit (GEU), the day saw selected girls from neighbouring schools participate in a workshop aimed at improving the strength of girls club within the district.

Having partnered with the GEU, SFLIG was lucky enough to not only attend the day but to also facilitate some of the main activities. With the key objectives being to highlight the importance of girl’s education, address the challenges faced by girls in their educational journey and develop leadership skills of the participants, Solutions utilised practical activities that strengthened the communication techniques of the participants and built their self-esteem as leaders. GEU supplemented the practical sessions of SFLIG with sessions that discussed girl’s education, self-esteem, adolescents and challenges that face teenage girls in Ghana.

GEU runs girls clubs throughout Ghana to support and guide teenage girls in their academic and personal pursuits. Within them, facilitators work on academic skills whilst also tackling the issues facing teens. The girls who attended this workshop were selected with the vision that they would become leaders of the girls club within their school, which would reignite or strengthen the already established clubs. In schools where the club was not established, these girls would be used to aid teachers in the development of a club.

Girl’s education within Ghana continues to have many challenges with over 44% of adolescent females not attending secondary school. The reasons for these low attendance scores are many – teen pregnancy, inadequate financial support, social stigmas, and lack of educational aspiration – but girls clubs, such as SFLIG’s Change Makers Ambassadors Club, are an excellent way to mentor and guide teenagers so that they make the right decisions for their future.

SFLIG’s final point of the day was to ask the girls to make a commitment to themselves and those girls who they intend to lead – a commitment to work hard at their education and to support those around them to do the same. This commitment was symbolised by their collective thumbprints and names. With numerous girls commenting on how the workshop had empowered them with new knowledge and skills, it was clear that the day had achieved its desired outcomes. And as always, SFLIG was honoured to be part of such a program and to contribute to the learning of these future leaders.