The Visionary Buluk Organization (VBO) has successfully held a Youth Advocacy Training Program – a transformative initiative aimed at empowering young leaders to address critical issues within the Builsa South District of the Upper East region.
The training, conducted under the Youth Initiative Small Grant (YISG) program, which forms part of the broader Power to Youth project, brought together 50 dynamic youth leaders from the Guuta, Balerinsa, and Kunyingsa communities in the Builsa South District.
The workshop was designed to equip participants with advocacy, leadership, and media communication skills, enabling them to drive meaningful social change.
Evans Adeba, Project Coordinator at VBO, said the organization used interactive sessions to train youth leaders on leading community-based campaigns on sexual and reproductive health, advocating for the prevention of child marriage and teenage pregnancy, and serving as role models for community transformation.
He emphasized the importance of youth involvement in addressing entrenched societal challenges. “Young people have the power to bring lasting change. This training ensures they have the tools and knowledge to do so effectively,” he noted.
Participants expressed their enthusiasm about applying their newly acquired skills in their communities. Shantel Egilinzaan, a participant, remarked, “This training has opened my eyes to how I can use my voice to educate others about gender equality and the importance of delaying marriage to allow girls to complete their education.”
As part of the training outcomes, participants will organize advocacy campaigns in their respective communities, targeting traditional leaders, parents, and peers to create awareness and foster behavioural change.
As these youth advocates step into their roles, they are expected to make significant strides in reducing child marriage and teenage pregnancy while addressing sexual and reproductive health challenges in Guuta, Balerinsa, Kunyingsa, and beyond.
The EmpowerHER initiative is a testament to VBO’s commitment to empowering young people to take charge of their communities’ social and developmental challenges. By fostering youth leadership, the program aligns with the broader goals of the Power to Youth project, which seeks to empower young people as change agents within their communities.
The Power to You(th) programme is implemented in Ghana by a consortium including Norsaac (Lead Partner), GH SRHR Alliance for Young People, and Songtaba.
By: Edward Ken-Zorre/newsalertgh.com
