As part measures to facilitate economic empowerment among women as well as promote gender equality and curb gender based- violence in the Sagnarigu Municipality of the northern region, SOS Children’s Villages Ghana has launched a one year project dubbed ‘’Sagnarigu Women’s Empowerment Project’’.
This project with funding from the French Embassy under its French Solidarity Programme- ‘’Strengthening Professional Skills of Civil Society Organization in Ghana’’-PISCCA, will give men, women and children equal opportunities in exercising their rights, accessing resources and participate in making decision for their wellbeing.
The two main objectives the project seeks to achieve are to reduce gender-based violence including Child Early and Forced Marriage –CEFM, and to strengthen the capacity of women for improved income. Speaking at the launch of the project, at the Sagnarigu Palace in Tamale, Programs Director at SOS Children’s Village Benedicta Pealore, indicates the project will reach out to about 11, 500 direct and indirect beneficiaries from 20 schools and 10 communities.
She said this was after an assessment made by the organization revealed that women in the Sagnarigu municipality are most disadvantaged group hence, the need to focus on interventions that foster economic empowerment as part of capacity building to enable them participate and contribute to self-growth and community development at large.
In the area of strengthening the capacity of women and girls for improved income, Madam Benedicta said 20 women and girls will be provided with market-related technical and vocational skills, with 300 women to also receive business development trainings which will include digital, financial and entrepreneurial training.
Speaking on behalf of the Sagnarigu Assembly, Municipal Coordinating Director, Al-Hassan Ziblim Alhassan commended SOS and the French Embassy for the initiative adding that it is the mandate of the Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly to carry out projects to ensure the development of the entire municipality, especially women and children. He assures the assembly’s commitment to a successful end of the project.
Alhaji Imoro Alhassan –Gushenaa on behalf of Sagnar- naa welcomed the idea saying the Palace opened for such developmental initiatives that will bring progress to the people of the area. He further appreciated the efforts SOS and the French Embassy are making to improve the living condition of his people in the area. The project he noted will go a long way to reduce gender-based violence, early and forced child marriages in the Sagnarigu Municipality.
SOS Children’s Villages-CV, Ghana is a non-governmental and non-denominational child-focused organization that provides direct services for children who have lost parental care and those at risk of losing parental care. For the past four decades, the organization has committed itself to working in the interest of vulnerable children, by providing them with support in the areas of basic care, education, good nutrition, shelter, healthcare, strengthening of families, and advocating their rights.
By: Lilian D. Walter/zaarnews.com/Ghana
