The formation of girls’ clubs in some communities in the Nanumba North and the Nanumba South districts has enhanced and improved educational performance and retention of girls in schools, which was bridging the gender parity gap.
Madam Musah Rukaya, a teacher and girls’ club mentor of the Nasamba Primary School, who made the observation, said the move had also encouraged many girls to remain in school and pursue higher educational laurels.
She explained that the clubs did not only teach good morals and other forms of socializations, but also educated girls about their rights thus boosting their confidence to withstand all forms of abuses.
Madam Rukaya was speaking to the media on Monday in Nasamba in the Nanumba South District during a familiarization tour of the area by officials of ActionAid Ghana (AAG) to acquaint themselves with the formation of the girls’ clubs.
The AAG and its partner Songtaba, both non-governmental organizations, has introduced the girls’ clubs concept in the area under the Stop Violence Against Girls in School (SVAG), an intervention that had increased enrolment, improved gender parity and educated girls on their rights.
Songtaba is a local NGO operating in the two Nanumba districts with the aim of advocating the rights of the vulnerable including women and children as well as implementing projects that would benefit the vulnerable in society.
Miss Abukari Mariam, an 18-year-old girl of the Nasamba Primary School told the GNA that through the girls’ club, she had visited several cities to learn new experiences for which reason she wanted to pursue a career that would help her become a nurse.
She said the clubs’ formation had not only built her confidence but enabled her to be assertive and confident to speak her mind.
Mr Mahama Amadu Jaama, Programmes Officer for Songtaba, said 13 girls’ clubs and community advocacy teams had been formed in the Nanumba North and South districts.
He said the two NGOs had started a new project in the area dubbed ‘Funding Leadership for Opportunities for Women’, a project that was aimed at sensitizing communities and women groups on the need for them (women) to get involved in farming activities.
Mr Jaama said the project at the end of the three and half year implementation, would assist some 1,796 women in various groupings in land ploughing, seedling provision, inputs supply and technical advice to enable them to be economically empowered.
Nasamba is a predominantly farming community in the Nanumba South district with about 1,232 inhabitants and has a primary and Junior High schools.
Source: GNA
