The
lives of Ghanaian teenage girls who have just finished junior high
school hold a lot of uncertainty. Some wait for their exam results to
learn if, and which senior high school they will attend. Others just
wait to see what the next step in their lives will be. In many
impoverished places like Humjibre, educating females is seen as a
trade-off. It is thought that girls and women belong in the home, so
there is no use in wasting resources by putting them in school. However,
educated females ensure the health and education of future generations.
For a community, their role creates now what is seen as one of the most
successful paths out of poverty. GHEI’s annual Girls Empowerment camp
sets aside two weeks for volunteers to help motivate local girls who have
just finished junior high school, and give them the knowledge and
confidence they will need to continue with their education and fulfill
their aspirations.
Each SSL session completes a vastly different project, so the program changes throughout the summer. For this one, there are about 15 local girls participating in the camp. Workshops with the volunteers are held in the early evenings so that the girls can still tend to their household responsibilities.
Sunday night was the first opportunity for everybody to meet. No small affair, the girls had been meeting and preparing for their Girls Empowerment Presentation all-month. When the music came on, they entered the community center in two lines from the back. They danced their way onto the stage and into a line, each with a letter to spell “Girls Empowerment.” Next, they sang this year’s theme song “We are Women for the Future” and put on a hysterically funny performance of the GHEI classic drama The Importance of Girl Child Education. Afterwards, the girls preformed a choreographed dance and the Humjibre Queen Mother; Nana Adwoa Ampo II took the stage. This part was completely unplanned. She spoke about different opportunities available to girls and to the delight of the audience, even lead them in a song. After the presentation, the girls, bubbling with excitement, started a dance party on the stage. The volunteers joined them, taking their first steps to get acquainted and learn their first azonto moves.
Over the week, workshops began. So far, volunteers have met with the girls on the topics of money, business management, family planning and safe sex. The community center has temporarily become a space reserved for girls to grow and learn. Every day, they are exposed to new ideas and encouraged by an all-female group of volunteers and local staff. This camp is a positive force in the girls’ lives; where they will become more confident, knowledgeable and prepared to face the next step.
More photos will be posted on our Facebook and be sure to check back next week to learn more about each workshop!
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Each SSL session completes a vastly different project, so the program changes throughout the summer. For this one, there are about 15 local girls participating in the camp. Workshops with the volunteers are held in the early evenings so that the girls can still tend to their household responsibilities.
Sunday night was the first opportunity for everybody to meet. No small affair, the girls had been meeting and preparing for their Girls Empowerment Presentation all-month. When the music came on, they entered the community center in two lines from the back. They danced their way onto the stage and into a line, each with a letter to spell “Girls Empowerment.” Next, they sang this year’s theme song “We are Women for the Future” and put on a hysterically funny performance of the GHEI classic drama The Importance of Girl Child Education. Afterwards, the girls preformed a choreographed dance and the Humjibre Queen Mother; Nana Adwoa Ampo II took the stage. This part was completely unplanned. She spoke about different opportunities available to girls and to the delight of the audience, even lead them in a song. After the presentation, the girls, bubbling with excitement, started a dance party on the stage. The volunteers joined them, taking their first steps to get acquainted and learn their first azonto moves. 
Over the week, workshops began. So far, volunteers have met with the girls on the topics of money, business management, family planning and safe sex. The community center has temporarily become a space reserved for girls to grow and learn. Every day, they are exposed to new ideas and encouraged by an all-female group of volunteers and local staff. This camp is a positive force in the girls’ lives; where they will become more confident, knowledgeable and prepared to face the next step.
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