By Hannah Dadzie
Purim African Youth Development Platform (PAYDP), a non-governmental organization, has stressed the need for community ownership to sustain intervention programs in various communities.
According to the organization, some community members have financial expectations for involvement in programmes, therefore, there should be education and engagement to help bring everyone on board.
Speaking at a stakeholder meeting on ‘inception and impact session’ to document success stories of Purim African Development Platform, Executive Director, Rev. Aku Xornam Kevin, called for a more integrated approach to help with some of these great interventions.
This, according to her, is the key to building the capacity of vulnerable communities and the country as a whole.
“We realized that under the sexual reproductive health and services we’ve given to these girls, a lot of them have been able to make positive decisions for their lives. A lot of these girls who got pregnant with two or more kids decided not to give birth again. Some have gone back to school while others have established businesses and we’re proud of them. It’s been amazing to see the support that these communities have been giving us.”
Some of the beneficiaries who are now facilitators in their various districts shared their success stories.
“I was once a street hawker. I used to sell pure water and mango and other In 2019, I got the chance to meet PAYDP and through their support, I’m now in St. Louis College of Education, a level 300 student, offering a Degree in Education,” Owusua Mavis RHESY beneficiary and facilitator narrated.
“I’m a teenage mother. I met PAYDP in 2018. I was in an abusive relationship but through the education PAYDP gave me through UNFPA, I was able to confront him that if he does such a thing again, I will report him to the police or DOVVSU. So, he stopped abusing me. From there, I went back to school, SHS two. When I completed it, I passed my WASSCE. They supported me with the help of my guy too I’ve gone back to school,” Seidu Wasila, RHESY beneficiary and facilitator narrated
The Chief of Kaneshie who is also a stakeholder, Nii Nikoi Ashaley, said the program has had a positive impact on his community and therefore called for more support to help the vulnerable.
“I was fortunate that Kaneshie was introduced, since then as a traditional leader, I’ve been part of them, trying to help them achieve their objective of educating young people who are sexual…and violence against women and promoting men and boys to be of decent behaviour,” Nii Nikoi Ashaley noted.
Purim African Youth Development Platform has in the past four years used a multidimensional approach to reach out to marginalized girls, including giving them accurate Sexual and Reproductive health information and services, legal literacy and entrepreneurship and how to prevent gender-based violence and harmful practices.
The organization with funding from the UNFPA wishes to reduce the risks facing adolescent girls and other vulnerable groups in the country.
