Stop 368 Teen Girls in Ghana from Missing School

By August 2017, Self-Help International Teen Girls Club had been operational for a year with a goal helping teen girls stay in school and complete their formal education. Unplanned pregnancies are a leading cause of girls dropping out of school, and often dooms them to a lifetime of rural poverty. Self-Help has been leading workshops for the Teen Girls Clubs including such topics requested by the participants, their mothers, and community leaders such as reading, community clean up, citizenship, and reproductive health education. The basic education initially offered was insufficient for some young women, and women of all ages in the villages we serve began asking for more comprehensive family planning services. We knew that women’s health was critical to the health of the whole family - particularly if they’re the only breadwinner and only earn income on days they’re healthy enough to work - yet the technical knowledge required was beyond our areas of expertise. We needed a partner who could offer high quality education and affordable services by trained health professionals.

Despite determined efforts, initial inquiries to potential local collaborators were fruitless. In Ghana, efforts by local community development organizations with similar goals to partner each other are often met with skepticism and yield few results due to a perception that the organizations are competing rather than complementing each other’s role. Yet against the odds, today we are pleased to be partnering with a professional health body in Ghana to deliver the needed health services to our cherished communities.

In August 2017, while visiting Ghana, our executive director called a meeting of Self-Help International and Marie Stopes International staff. At the meeting, she laid bare the mission and vision of Self-Help International, and listened to the vision and mission of Marie Stopes International. The team at Marie Stopes International (MSI), led by Stella, was already well aware of the numerous connections between women’s health and the health and financial well being of the children and family. They came to the conclusion that if MSI could offer health services in villages where SHI was already actively supporting women’s micro-credit groups and teen girls clubs, we would both better achieve our ultimate goals of a healthy and hunger-free world. MSI graciously accepted the invitation to partner and indicated their readiness to work with Self-Help International.

On August 11, a team of health workers from MSI provided education and screening on reproductive health for SHI micro-loan beneficiaries during a leadership summit held in the village of Bedabour. During the leadership summit, the village and religious leaders present learned about MSI and the requests of their community members to access quality health services, and pledged to support of such endeavors.

On Thursday, October 19, a team of four health workers led by Stella organized a talk program on reproductive health and teenage pregnancy for thirty (30) students who are members of SHI Teen Girls Clubs and their parents at Timeabu.  Stella, a midwife, spoke to the girls about teenage pregnancy; how teenage pregnancy occurs and the dangers in childbirth as a teenager.  She advised the girls to stay in school and focus on their studies so as to have a brighter future. Stella also advised the parents that, should the unexpected happen and their teenage daughters get pregnant, they should bring them to the hospital and never neglect them. The parents were receptive and took advantage of the occasion to advise their children to pay attention to everything they are taught.

Stella and her team repeated the education and training on Friday, October 20, in Bedabour. Teenage girls from Bedabour and Beposo converged in Bedabour for health training.  In all, ninety-five (95) women and girls attended the training at Bedabour. The talk was on teenage pregnancy and its effects on young mothers. Unlike girls from Timeabu, the girls from Bedabour and Beposo said they felt pressured to have amorous relationship with the men for financial rewards. It came up that some parents in the community have taken their daughters to local chemical sellers and herbalists for unsafe abortions. A bit shocked, Stella and her team advised about the dangers of unsafe abortion which can lead to the removal of the womb and leave a woman barren, and shared resources where the girls and parents can turn to for help if faced with such a situation. After the talk, Marie-Stopes offered free screening services to ten (10) women who requested further attention.

It was clear from listening to the mothers and daughters in these three villages that access to ongoing health services and advising from medical professionals was a previously unmet need that was in high demand by the rural communities. A series of such education and screening services are planned for 2017 and Marie Stopes has requested that we submit plans to continue to partner with them for health education and services in 2018. 

No doubt, this partnership will go a long way to ensure that mothers are able to receive financial support to start and expand their businesses, generate income so they can take good care of their families, invest in educating their daughters as well as their sons, and enable their girls to be mindful of manageable family sizes, avoiding diseases, and well prepared to welcome a child when the time is right. 

Thank you for your support of women and girls in rural communities. You are truly creating brighter futures for generations to come!

“I am thankful to SHI for the gift of national health insurance. With this I can visit the clinic and have my body examined,”  said Gifty with a smile.

Gifty is twelve years old and in fifth grade at Timeabu Municipal Area Basic School. She is an excellent student and at the top of class. Like many families in Timeabu, Gifty lives in a one room home, which she shares with both of her parents and all five of her siblings. Outside of school, Gifty spends her time helping out on the family farm and helping her mother’s business, which involves producing and selling brooms.

Gifty is one of the pioneers of Teen Girls Club in Timeabu. Mabel, the Coordinator of the Timeabu Teens Girls Club, tells SHI, “Gifty is hardworking and respectful anywhere she finds herself.” The girls have confidence in Mabel, a well-respected mother in the community who provides them guidance and counselling.

During one of the Teens Club meetings, Gifty confided in Mabel, “I wake up every morning feeling tired and weak. Sometimes, I feel pains in my entire body.”  Mabel kept a close eye on Gifty after that conversation, and upon seeing that Gifty’s health was deteriorating, she had a discussion with Gifty’s parents. The parents admitted they were aware of Gifty’s deteriorating health but were unable to help due to financial difficulties.  

Touched by the plight of the girl, Mabel took up her cause and appealed to friends and family members and Self-Help and was able to mobilize GHC 30.00 (US $7) which was used get Gifty national health insurance coverage for twelve months. Gifty has since visited the hospital, where she was able to get the needed treatment and is now recovering.

Gifty is happy not only because she is receiving medical treatment, but also because it means she can stay in school and her dream to become a nurse is still alive. She wonders, “What would have happened to me without the health insurance?” and gives thanks that the Teens Club has come to her village and offered her support. 

The Teen Girls Club not only guides and counsels girls to concentrate on their schooling but also provides protection and voice for teen girls in rural Ghana. Thanks to your support of the Teens Club regular activities - and extra support like in Gifty’s case - many teen girls will not only survive, but thrive, complete their education and become tomorrow’s world leaders.

Mark your calendar: Three weeks from today, on Thursday, October 5, all donations to this project will be matched all day long! The match runs from 8am - 11pm Central and will apply to gifts of up to $1,000 per person! See complete terms & conditions here.