The Executive Director of Tiyumba Hope Foundation (THF), Ms. Fadila Fuseini, has called for opportunities for Ghanaian youth to develop their naturally-gifted skills in order to avoid taking dangerous and risky behaviours in life.
She said teenagers in Ghana and across the globe need to maintain their physical and mental health to improve their livelihood and financial literacy skills for a better future.
In her welcome address during the Regional Teens Summit held in Tamale on Saturday, Madam Fadila emphasized that access to quality education is very critical to the development of young people in the country and added there is the need for the introduction of policies to create an enabling environment for teenagers to thrive.
The Tiyumba Hope Foundation organised the Regional Teens Summit on the theme: “Creating an enabling environment for meaningful youth participation in COVID-19”, for teenagers to discuss the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in accessing Sexual Reproductive Health services and contraceptives, menstrual cycle and health, drug abuse among others.
The Executive Director stated the pandemic has brought untold suffering to the youth particularly teenage girls and rapidly eroded the significant achievements of Civil Society Organizations in Ghana.
“Uneasy access to contraceptives and Sexual Reproductive Health services, unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions are just few of the many challenges experienced by young girls in these trying times.
“Furthermore, the sustainable development goals recognize the important role young people play in the development arena. Young people become more confident and passionate when they see that their views are taken seriously and represented”, she added.
Madam Fadila noted that when young people are empowered and given the right opportunities, they become effective drivers of change.
She commended Plan International Ghana, Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency Ghana (SWIDA-GH) and YEFL Ghana among other partners who supported the summit.
Madam Fadila reiterated the call for other organizations to support youth centred initiatives so that no one is left behind in the contemporary development agenda.
Meanwhile, some of the participants from selected Senior High Schools told THE CUSTODIAN that the workshop was very insightful and educative and commended Tiyumba Hope Foundation for creating such a platform for them to learn.
Zakaria Nadia from the Tamale Islamic SHS said she is encouraged to make her aspirations become a reality and promised to share the knowledge she had acquired with her friends to create change.
“I’ve learnt about reproductive health and as a young female, I have also learnt when I am in my menses I have to be hygienic, take care of my body and bath at least twice in a day, change my sanitary pad and panties frequently and do not allow other people to abuse me”.
