Project Report
| Jul 7, 2021
Quarter 2 Update: Gender Equality & Health Empowerment in Ghana
Since our last report to GlobalGiving, our partner network's important work in women’s’ empowerment and health has gathered considerable momentum. In the community of Kokrobite in Ghana, we have expanded our projects in menstrual health education and the distribution of sanitary products to female students, trained more local women in first-aid, wellness and hygiene, and developed a more diverse curriculum of workshops and events supporting community sanitation and hygiene.
As our donors and supporters will be aware, GVI Ghana runs a program of menstrual health education and distribution of sanitary products for female students at our local partner schools in Kokrobite. The program allows for all girls of 11 years plus to participate in educational workshops to discuss reproductive and menstrual health and to be offered advice and guidance on safe and hygienic good practice. In addition, each school is provided with sanitary pads, sanitized wipes and other resources to distribute to female students as and when they experience their monthly reproductive cycles. During the last quarter, this program has been extended to several new partner schools and hundreds of new female students, with over 2000 sanitary products distributed free of charge. The educational component of the program has broadened, to include for body confidence, mental health awareness and a greater understanding of female health. This year, we are seeking new sponsors and donors to support the exponential growth of this high-impact local project to new schools and new students.
In June, GVI Ghana began a formal partnership with the Ghana Girl Guides Association, positioning GVI as a project implementation partner for Girl Guides activities in up to 20 schools in our local area. GVI will be central in delivering educational workshops and activities focused on female health, menstrual health, teenage pregnancy, consent and women’s rights, and life skills such as communication, fitness, and first aid. GVI Ghana is seeking support and sponsorship to provide a wide variety of educational materials to support this program, with an estimated, potential 1000+ local female Ghanaian school students to benefit from this program for the first time.
In order to continue supporting our local partner schools to safely re-open following the pandemic, GVI Ghana has also worked with a variety of education partners to deliver training to both teachers and students in sanitisation techniques, first-aid, hygiene protocols and the protection of the natural and human habitats at a local level. We have increased the number of parter schools within this program from 3 to 6, allowing us to reach dozens more teachers and approximately 300 new students. In addition, multiple community events have been completed by GVI, utilising hundreds of community members and partner organisations, focusing on the collection of litter, the planting of trees, and the dissemination of malaria nets and health insurance to local families.
In-line with our focus on the health of women, girls and the community, GVI Ghana has - this quarter - significantly increased its scope of projects, number of partners, and investment in local resources and activities in Kokrobite. This growth can continue, and the required relationships with community actors are in-place to do so, but to be successful GVI Ghana requires a steady stream of donations and charitable income.
The success of our projects will improve the immediate health and heath education of female students, train community leaders and women in first aid, rights and equality, introduce ongoing processes to maintain a hygienic standard in schools and a clean environment in the community, and provide critical medical care to hundreds of children and families.
The GVI Ghana team would therefore like to extend a huge thank you to everyone that helped us launch these projects, and provide an invitation for all those who would like to be involved in future.