Plan International empowers over 500 girls in project area

Plan International Ghana has officially closed out its “Be Smart, Learn and Stay Protected” project at a ceremo­ny held in Koforidua last Friday.The two-year initiative, which started from February 2021 and ended in January 2023, focused on empowering adolescent girls and young women through education, protection, and skills training in selected communities across the Eastern and Oti Regions.Implemented in Upper Manya and Akwapim North (Eastern Region), and Jasikan (Oti Region), the project aimed to create a safe and supportive environment for young girls, particularly those vulnerable to sexual and gen­der-based violence (SGBV).

Speaking at the event, the Country Director of Plan In­ternational Ghana, Mr Constant Tchona, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their collabora­tion and commitment.He highlighted that the project had positively impacted over 500 girls in the project areas.“Under this project, we es­tablished Adolescent Clubs with Drop-in Centres in schools and communities to provide safe spac­es where girls could learn, gain confidence, and find support to pursue their dreams,” he outlined.



One of the key achievements of the initiative was a notable decrease in teenage pregnancies in participating communities, Mr Tchona emphasised and added that prior to the project, teenage pregnancies were “alarmingly high” in these areas.He, however, said through awareness programmes and em­powerment initiatives, the num­bers had significantly reduced.“Beyond education, the project prioritsed child protection.

Com­munity child protection commit­tees were trained and empowered to identify, address, and prevent cases of abuse,” he added.He stated that these committees had since become essential in en­suring that SGBV was no longer a hidden issue in their communities.Also, he said the project also targeted out-of-school girls by equipping them with vocational skills, entrepreneurship training, and start-up kits to help them establish sustainable livelihoods.

Additionally, he revealed that Savings and Loans Groups were formed for parents and caregivers, providing financial stability while serving as platforms for child protection awareness and SGBV prevention.Furthermore, Mr Tchona un­derlined that although the project had officially ended, sustainabil­ity plans had been developed in collaboration with district and community stakeholders to ensure its long-term impact.Again, motorbikes had been provided for monitoring, Drop-in Centers had also been rehabili­tated, and educational materials distributed to adolescent clubs.

“The closure of this project is not the end; rather, it marks the beginning of a greater movement to protect and empower girls. I urge community members to continue these efforts and create safer spaces while championing the rights of every child, especially girls,” he emphasised.The Country Director com­mended community leaders, including chiefs, opinion leaders, and religious figures, for their active support, acknowledging that their efforts had been instrumen­tal in driving positive change.

The Project Manager, Mr Bless Kofi Vieku, highlighted that the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 had worsened gender inequalities, making girls and young women more vulnerable to SGBV, teenage pregnancies, and school dropouts.He revealed that Plan Inter­national Ghana and Beiersdorf, through the German National Of­fice, funded the project to protect girls in affected communities.“While 500 girls benefited directly, over 2,000 have benefitted indirectly through additional train­ing and awareness campaigns,” he added, thanking stakeholders for their unwavering support.

Hannah Agome, a beneficiary and peer educator, shared her experience, stating that teenage pregnancy was previously rampant in her community, but the project had helped reduce the numbers.“Parents have been educat­ed on how to properly care for their daughters. Personally, I have learned my rights and have become a peer educator to advise others,” she indicated.

FROM AMA TEKYIWAA AMPADU AGYEMAN, KO­FORIDUAThe post Plan International empowers over 500 girls in project area appeared first on Ghanaian Times..