A refresher community entry in the five selected communities was held on the 29th of March, 2023 with the help of two focal persons in each of the communities. This entry was done in two days by the gender officer and her team in which they visited members in groups in their various communities. The gender officer Miss Bashiru Mardia as meeting with the community members presented how the project is going to be implemented in the District and the immediate goals for the next few months to come. The purpose and objective of the community entry was to familiarize project staff with the community members and stakeholders which will support the project during its implementation, another one is that, the community entry was done to detail the roles, support services and complementary responsibilities of the newly project and the project team.
As part of leading community advocacy work, CIWED GH commerce a meeting to disseminate results on level of inclusion of PWDs on political activities. The was held yesterday as a result of the evidence gathered/data collected on the level of inclusion of persons living with disability in political arena. Results gathered indicates that, PWD have much interest in contesting for leadership position, but challenges and other social factors prevents them from coming out publicly to show their interest for these positions when they are available.
In his word to the PWD in a form of advice, the executive director Mr. Baako Abdul-Fatawu challenged them without narrowing their minds to critics from others, as those ones are happen one way or the other and they must prepare for them. Stigmatizing is also a factor they look out for and they will call them sort of name, but what they do need to do is to remain focus on the taxe a hered and in the end, the will get what they are looking for.
The leadership of the PWDs in ziong community called for the authorities of the Assembly and NGOs to help the PWDs federation with a resource center. In his remarks, the director of Social Welfare Alhaji Osman called the PWDs to stop begging on the streets. This activity is part of the of the WVL project funded by PLAN Int. Ghana and implemented by CIWED-GHANA.
CIWED undertakes evidence gathering (data collection) on the level of inclusion of persons living with disability in community political activities and decision-making processes in the Nantong District. The evidence gathering included many disability categories including the physically challenged, visually impaired and hearing impaired. Very useful recommendations were harvested including the having a quota for PWDs in unit committee leadership. Subsequent activities will engage district stakeholders on the findings and further action planning
As part of project activities, CIWED organized quarterly review meetings for Ge-net group leaders. The Gender Network Groups (Ge-net) is a group of identified community leaders from various sectors of the community who lead advocacy on gender equality and gender transformation. The review meeting was to identify and discuss in details some gender and human right issues bordering their communities. The meeting was also to create a platform for action in tackling the identified human right issues.
The Ge-Net leaders in Zoggu reported that one key gender issue was youth out-migration from the community. They further reported that the issue is serious because it is predominant among young girls of school going age. A teacher among the leadership reported that, after the directive by the government for all schools to resume (after COVID-19 close down), about 50% of the females in his school did not return. He further explained that some got married off and some migrated to Accra and Kumasi to do petty jobs (popularly called Kayaaye). Similar issues were reported from Ge-net leadership from Nantong communities. It was found that child marriage and youth out-migration were the common issues in most communities.
As follow up actions, the leadership of the Ge-Net committed to discussing the issue with the entire community stakeholders for collective action. On her part, the Gender Coordinator for CIWED, Madam Basiru Mardiya pledged commitment to the course of the Ge-Net and promised for capacity support to the networks.
CIWED ORGANIZED TWO DAYS TOWN HALL MEETING ON ENDING GENDER INEQUALITIES
CIWED with funding support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) seeks to increase the effective participation of women in decision-making roles and leadership positions and to empower them to have access and control of resources in two districts in the northern region. As part of the “women voice and Leadership” project, CIWED convened a town hall meeting on ending gender inequalities in the project districts. The theme for the town hall meeting was “Leave no Female Behind”.
Addressing the participants, the Executive Director of CIWED, Mr. Baako Abdul Fatawu reaffirmed that CIWED seeks to have visibly empowered women, girls, men and boys groups leading the campaign for gender transformation in the communities. He assured that CIWED will continue to work towards empowering women and youth at the community level to advocate for their rights. He added that the project will build community structures to lead the campaign and sustain the gains. He concluded that women and their groups in the communities will be supported more to make specific demands for their rights including access to resources, representation and participation in decision-making.
The town hall meeting was attended by various district and community stakeholders including the district coordinating director, the department of social welfare and community development, the Ghana Education Service, the Ghana Health Service, community chiefs and elders, the honorable assemblymen and women, students, youth groups and women groups.
The two days town hall meeting increased the confidence of community women and girls towards seeking community leadership positions. It also created platform for increased commitment from traditional leaders to support women with lands to farm.
As follow-up action to a reflection meeting held among Gender Network Groups (Ge-Net), CIWED supported the leadership of the Ge-Net to widen their discussion to the entire communities. Reports gathered from community volunteers revealed that the traditional leaders were full of praise for CIWED and OSIWA for facilitating a community led appraisal action.
The chief of Kparigilanyili in the Nantong District could not hide his satisfaction during a monitoring visit to his community and palace. CIWED can report that the reflection meetings created a community led appraisal platform for community members to find local solutions to their local problems. Parents increased their understanding on gender and human right issues. The Assemblywoman for Gbumgbum electoral area; the only female elected Assemblywoman in Nantong District was so happy for the CIWED/OSIWA intervention. She pledged to partner with CIWED to have more female elected Assemblywomen in the coming District Assembly elections
Two days’ trainer of trainees training organized for Girls Assembly (GAS) leaders and patrons on leadership, team-building and advocacy training
The Girls Assembly (GAS) and Boys Advocacy Clubs concepts are CIWED innovations that see a group of girls and a group of boys formed to deliberate on issues affecting girls in schools, such as leadership, gender discrimination & stereotype, and adolescent reproductive health, including child marriage issues. CIWED through OSIWA support has GAS and BACs in twenty schools in two districts.
As part of strengthening strategies, CIWED supported a two days’ trainer of trainees training for GAS leaders and patrons (120 members) on leadership, team-building and advocacy training. The training was co-facilitated by CIWED and the girl child officers of the Nantong and Savelugu Districts. The meeting gave the girls capacity on leadership and reproductive health issues. The training also gave them knowledge on pathways to report cases of abuse and dangers of child marriage.
The teachers and patrons of the schools saw the action as complementing the role of the Ghana Education Service and expressed satisfaction with the actions.
CIWED Livelihood Trainees undergo Refresher Capacity Training in Tamale-24/06/2022
CIWED GHANA Organized a refresher training workshop for its CLIP 2 beneficiaries in Tamale. This was in appreciation of the need to complement the practical skills of the trainees with soft capacity. The training centred on Business management, financial management & negotiation and Life skills.
The master craftsmen/women, who are tasked to train the beneficiaries, were given the opportunity to participate in this training. In sum, 30 participants showed up for the training. In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of CIWED, Mr. Baako Abdul fatawu welcomed the trainees and admonished them to take active part in the training. He also reminded them that learning and mastering the job alone will not bring much success until the workers learn how to manage their business, their finances and customer relations in general.
The trainer, Mr. Issah Aminu Danaa, used a mixture of pictures, videos and words to deliver the training. The participants felt very comfortable with the facilitation approach. The verbal post training evaluation showed that the training was rated very high. One trainee remarked; “Today I have increased my knowledge on how to relate with my future customers; I will be very honest and friendly with them”. Another remarked; “Now I understand why some master craftsmen lose their customers. I will be a good master when I graduate”
The project is supported by Tools for Self Reliance UK. It seeks to reduce the unemployment challenges in the Northern Region of Ghana and also contribute to empower these young people to become responsible and respected citizen in their home and communities as well.
CIWED’s Radio Discussion on Gender Based Violence gets Massive Public Response
On 4th June, 2022 CIWED Ghana had a radio discussion to educate the people of northern Ghana, especially, Savelugu Municipality and Nanton District on gender based violence and the various forms it takes. This was in response to objective two (2) of the CIWED/MSH programme to support advocacy activities of 20 groups for prevention and responding to Gender Based Violence (GBV) during the COVID-19 pandemic through campaigns targeting male engagement in domestic responsibilities and addressing drivers of intimate partner violence. The discussion featured the Northern Regional Director of the Department of Gender as well as a representative from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). Men’s contribution to the programme blamed women for emotionally abusing them whereas women blamed men for physically and financially abusing them. The project is supported by Management Sciences for Health Ins. (MSH), with the goal to contribute to advocacy and accountability for the continuation of quality, lifesaving health and nutrition services for women, children, and adolescents during and after the COVID 19 pandemic, and for improving health outcomes in these areas.
CIWED Ghana holds 2-day Life Skills &Adolescent Health Training Workshop
CIWED Ghana carried out a capacity building training workshop for its livelihood focused trainees. the training focused on life skill and adolescent health practices to help them address the challenges they might face concerning their adulthood. The aim of the activity was to empower the young trainee with the requisite skills to enable them understand the developmental changes face by young adults and to prepare for them. The activity also aimed at differentiating between a child and an adult and how the two are interrelated.