Skills Training
Our community
entries and beneficiaries’ selection were a success as seen in our previous
report. As stated in the previous report, majority of the beneficiaries want to
learn a skill specifically, Soap making. This is because they needed a skill
that they can complete within a short period of time and begin earning money to
care for themselves and children since they are currently struggling with their
needs.
We commenced the Soap Making training on 20th
August with over 50 participants (pregnant girls and teenage mothers) from 6
communities in the Upper West Region. One of the communities was selected as
the training center and participants from the other communities had to move
from their communities to the training center. We provided transportation for
the participants outside of the training center to enable them come for the
training. We also provided lunch for all participants throughout the training. It
was a one-week long training and we trained them on making 10 products namely;
shower gel, liquid soap, bar soap (key soap, BF soap, guardian soap), Moringa
soap, Azuma blow (round soap), parazone, body pomade and hair pomade. Below are
the pictures from the week-long training.
On the last day
of the training, we had a climax event where guardians of the beneficiaries as
well as assembly men and chiefs of the various communities were present to
witness the successful completion of the girls. We also had the media (Joy News
and Metro TV) who covered the whole event.
To mark their successful completion of the
intensive week-long training, we gave the participants certificates to prove
that they have undergone training in soap making. We completed the
support package by giving all the beneficiaries Start-up Kits to enable them
start their own soap making business immediately to be able to earn money to
take care of themselves and children. The items were given to them in the
presence of their guardians who were encouraged by the LifeAgain team to
support their children as they start their businesses.
Back to School
The beneficiaries who want to go back to school
were also present at the climax event with their guardians to receive their
scholarship package to enable them get back to school immediately. Before the
presentation of the items, we had a contract signing between LifeAgain, the
beneficiaries and their guardians with the assembly men serving as witnesses.
The purpose of the contract signing is to ensure that our beneficiaries are
protected from any form of forced marriage and given the support they would
need from their guardians to stay in school and complete their studies. Should
the beneficiaries or their guardians fail to comply with the terms of the
contract after it is being signed, they will refund all the scholarship items
given to them by LifeAgain. This serves as a deterrent and ensures the contract
is not breached by either party.
After
the contract signing, the scholarship items were presented to them. Each
beneficiary was given 2 school uniforms, 2 pair of shoes, 20 exercise books, a
bag, mathematical set, 10 pens and a graph book.
All the
beneficiaries who have completed the skills training have started business
immediately and the ones who want to get back to school are also in school now.
We will keep monitoring them and give them additional support every year to
ensure that they stay in school and complete their studies.
Conclusion
The #Empower50TeenMothers campaign
we launched early this year to empower 50 teenage mothers as a way to reduce
the damage caused by COVID 19 resulting to about 110,000 teenage pregnancies in
Ghana have been successful. Thanks to your generous donation, we exceeded our
campaign target of 50 girls. Thanks for believing in our work and helping us to
touch the lives of vulnerable girls who would have otherwise have their lives
destroyed but now, they have a second chance to pursue their dreams and
aspirations.
