Peer educator Patricia has been learning about her rights, responsibilities and sexual and reproductive health and shares this information with other girls.
“I was once a club member in one of the school clubs in my school and then I moved as a peer educator because of the potential the group saw in me,” shares Patricia.
Patricia participated in the Plan International Be Smart project to learn about her rights, health and how to stay safe.
“We [young people] know more of our rights and responsibilities such that if someone has faced abuse or if we hear of any cases of abuse of rights we know where to report and who to report to, especially the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice,” shares Patricia.
“I have gained confidence to speak and talk well in public, at first most of us were very shy to even speak in public and very nervous.”
“The project has changed my perception about the potential of girls in my community. Before the project some parents didn’t see the importance of girl child education, now through the outreach of the project to parents and elders and opinion leaders they know the importance of education for girls.”
“We [young people] know more of our rights and responsibilities, if we hear of any cases of abuse we know where to report and who to report to.”
Patricia
“There is increased awareness, such that we have gained knowledge on menstrual hygiene and HIV AIDS prevention as well as education on reproductive health. There is also decreased cases and stories on teenage pregnancies as compared to when the project had not joined,” explains Patricia.
As a peer educator, Patricia shares her knowledge on the importance of education, sexual and reproductive health and staying safe with other girls and young women in her community.
About the region
In the Eastern and Oti Regions of Ghana, adolescent girls and young women faced significant challenges, with high rates of teenage pregnancy, sexual and gender-based violence, and school dropouts. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 had exacerbated these gender inequalities, making girls even more vulnerable.
Plan’s response
To address these issues, Plan International Ghana, with funding from Beiersdorf through the German National Office, launched the “Be Smart, Learn and Stay Protected” project in February 2021.
“I have gained confidence to speak and talk well in public.”
Patricia
This two-year initiative was implemented in the Eastern and Oti regions.
The project created safe and supportive environments for girls. It:
- Established adolescent clubs with drop-in centres in schools and communities, so girls have safe spaces to learn, gain confidence, and find support.
- Trained community child protection committees who identify, address, and prevent cases of abuse, making sexual and gender-based violence no longer a hidden issue.
- Provided vocational skills and entrepreneurship training for out-of-school girls, equipping them with sustainable livelihood opportunities.
- Established savings and loans groups for parents and caregivers, offering financial stability while serving as platforms for child protection awareness.
Impact
The project supported more than 500 girls directly, with more than 2,000 benefiting indirectly through additional training and awareness campaigns.
Key achievements include:
- Significant reduction in teenage pregnancies in participating communities
- Increased awareness of child rights among girls and community members
- Enhanced community-based protection mechanisms for vulnerable children
- Economic empowerment of out-of-school girls through vocational training.
At the project’s closing ceremony in Koforidua, Mr. Constant Tchona, Country Director of Plan International Ghana said, “The closure of this project is not the end; rather, it marks the beginning of a greater movement to protect and empower girls. I urge community members to continue these efforts and create safer spaces while championing the rights of every child, especially girls.”
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