NNEKA INITIATIVE OUTLINE and PROGRAM DETAILS ABOUT NNEKA YOUTH FOUNDATION Founded and Registered in 2012 with a Five-Member Boar

NNEKA INITIATIVE OUTLINE AND PROGRAM DETAILS

ABOUT NNEKA YOUTH FOUNDATION Founded and registered in 2012 with a five-member board, 5 permanent staff, and over 90 volunteers, Nneka Youth Foundation has served more than 30,000 youth in nearly 330 communities and four Regions in Ghana. Our major strategies in making a massive impact on the lives of youth is centered on: Vocational Entrepreneurial Pathway (VEP), Youth Development Camps, Summits and intensive workshops, Review sessions, Book Drives, Scholarship Schemes, Educational Logistics Support, Teacher Training Seminars, Community Sensitization (to underserved areas, where it’s difficult to imagine life opportunities beyond basic education and Inequality gap bridged).

Nneka Youth Foundation has worked with youth and teachers to change their mindset and provide the tools they need to not only succeed in the classroom but to become lifelong learners and uplift their communities out of poverty. Education stakeholders, families, and community leaders see Nneka as a lifeline.

Our social inclusion and female empowerment programs have;  Equipped over 700 teenage mothers with various vocational basic entrepreneurial skills since 2017.  Supported and reintegrated nine (9) Teenage mothers from 6 communities into school in 2016.  Trained 30 girls in active football and volleyball.  Empowered 30 women in active Palm oil Production in collaboration with Women in Social Enterprise (WISE).  Supported10 women from 4 communities in cereal and vegetable farming.

Our educational facilitation programs have:  Reached out to over 30,000 young people in rural communities  Facilitated scholarships at various levels for beneficiaries  Constructed and equipped an ICT library

DISTRICTS WE WORK IN  Afadzato South  North Tongu  South Dayi  North Dayi  Kpando Municipal  Ho West  Ho Central  Agotime Ziope  Ningo Prampram  Shai Osu Doku  Kpone Katamaso

‘Smarter to raise Healthy Children than to repair damaged adults'

 Elembele  Hohoe Municipal  Keta  Krachi Nchumuru  Nkwanta South  Adaklu  Akatsi North  Krachi East  Krachi West  Dambai  Kadjebi  Jasikan  Central Tongu

NNEKA WORLD CHANGERS CAMP

The Nneka world-changers camp initiative is the flagship, foundation initiative of the Nneka Youth Foundation. It is the initial point of interaction and assessment of the core beneficiaries of the organization’s interventions. The World changers camp, also known as the summer camp took off in 2012 and over the period reached out to over 30,000 young people aged between 12 and 16 from over 330 communities, 24 districts across the country.

Nneka Youth Foundation is laying strong foundations to extend the vital life-changing works we do to as many children as possible. We reach out to these children through our major World Changers Camps which are held at our Youth Development Centre as well as regular Youth Development Programs throughout the year. Nneka World Changers Summer Camp is one of our Initiatives that bring together over 3000 children from rural deprived communities in a 6days stream of sleep-in camps. Seasoned individuals, who are passionate about making a difference in the youth, are brought from various professional fields to impart in the youth. Activities include;

 Educative/Moral talk: Adolescent Reproductive Health, How To Study, Problem Solving Techniques, Social Media and Implications On Youth, Rights of Children, Leadership, etc  Arts & Crafts: Beads Making, slippers designing, Writing skills, Problem-solving skills, etc  Interactive group discussions  Sports(In-door & out-door games)  Group challenges  Reading & Spelling Bee  Talent shows and many more…

‘Smarter to raise Healthy Children than to repair damaged adults'

MISSION To remove obstacles and increase access to quality education, mentorship, and learning opportunities that will build the skills, resilience, and character of Ghana’s youth. For a better Ghana, we embolden youth to uplift their communities, aspire higher, and achieve more.

VISION To nurture generations of lifelong learners, leaders, and doers in the classroom and beyond. Education doesn’t just build careers, it builds character. Ghana’s future depends on engaged citizens. Our vision for lifelong learners extends to students, teachers, and communities. Education doesn’t just expand career possibilities. It builds leadership. It builds character.

OBJECTIVES (Over 5 years within identified districts) • To reduce teenage pregnancy among school children by 20% • To increase enrolment of students particularly girls in Senior High School by at least 20% • To reduce drop-outs as a result of drug abuse and other social vices by 20% To improve on examination results particularly BECE by at least 20% (20% more passes than is the case currently) • To promote gender equality through girl participation in sports and offer psychosocial, physical, and moral assistance through the practice of sports.

“We don’t just host camps and leave. When Nneka enters a community, we’re there to stay and be the best neighbor and partner we can be. Without engaged teachers and supportive families, schools and camps are just structures.”

AREAS OF EMPHASIS

1. EDUCATION – YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

To address the problems of Stagnation of Potential among children in deprived areas, Inequality between Rural and Urban children, Teenage Pregnancy, Drug Abuse, as well as Poor Examination Results, and School Dropout Rate.

We are focused on youth development and teacher training in rural Ghana – because if we stayed where we are, nothing would change. Our nation cannot afford to miss out on the untapped creativity, innovation, and hard work of the thousands of youth from these communities. The time to engage them is now.

2. WOMEN EMPOWERMENT - VEP

To create opportunities through our multi-pronged skills training and vocational education coupled with training on basic financial literacy, soft skills, entrepreneurship, and business development to make women economically viable and employable.

‘Smarter to raise Healthy Children than to repair damaged adults'

C13/A/D37, DTD, Sakumono Estates, Te ma Tel: +233 (024) 3110901/ (020) 8122856/ (027) 0405819 [email protected] https://nnekafoundation.org/ Facebook: NNEKA YOUTH Foundation Instagram: nnekafoundation We integrate a psychological, confidence-boosting element, which involves Power Talk Sessions(PTS), and employ the use of mentor interactions to boost the confidence of these teen mothers, girls, and women and improve their agency.

ACHIEVEMENTS  Successful organization of 22 Summer Camps since 2012 for over 30,000 Youth in Ghana.  The maiden camp took place at Ve Gbodome in 2012 for 500 youth drawn from 10 communities in the Afadjato South District. It was a two-week camp. 2014 saw the Foundation grow tremendously by venturing into 4 different districts in two regions in Ghana; one in the Greater Accra Region, and three in the Volta Region. A total of 2958 youth were reached in 2014 alone. This represents over 295% growth in 2013’s reach. Total reach in 2015 was 3,154 youth from 6 Districts in Ghana (5 from the Volta Region with 2,504 and 1 from Ningo Prampram District in the Greater Accra Region with 650 youth). In all 176 communities were reached. We further expanded our reach to 7 districts in 2016, impacting the lives and futures of 3024 youth from 196 communities. In 2017, we reached out to 2878 children from 200 communities. In 2019, we reached out to over 2000 children from 211 communities, 19 districts across 4 regions in Ghana. In 2020 despite the challenges we faced during this COVID-19 era we have been able to reach out to over 3000 youth during our satellite camps.  As of 2020, our Review/Follow-up, Speed-mentoring, and Community Engagement Programs in 10 Districts/Municipalities (Afadjato South, Hohoe, South Dayi, North Tongu, Keta, Nkwanta South, Nchumuru, Akatsi South, Ho West, and Ningo Prampram ) saw over 13,000 participants (Parents, Teachers/Educators, Community Leaders, and the Youth) in attendance.  2020 Christmas Party of the Foundation was the 10th organized for over 3,000 Children in two separate communities as one of the ways of follow-up on our Camp Participants.  100 children were trained in active football and volleyball.  Twenty (20) Teenage mothers from 11 communities were supported and reintegrated into school.  700 teenage mothers and girls out of school were equipped with various vocational and basic entrepreneurial skills and 230 have been supported with Seed Capital.  36 Teacher Volunteers from 2 Districts in the Volta Region were inculcated with Play-Based Methodology Learning.  1,700 Basic School English Teachers trained in Pragmatic Reading and Writing and Positive Discipline workshop in 7 districts in Ghana.  51 Teacher Volunteers from Afadjato South District Trained to Run Nneka After School Reading Program.  A Reading Club formed in 2013 and over 15,000 reading books and textbooks donated to 11 schools in the Afadjato South District.  A semi-furnished ICT Lab/Library at our Youth Development Centre that serves 5 surrounding community schools.

 50 E-Readers donated to 3 schools in the Afadjato South District.  60 children from 8 schools who walk over 3.5km to school daily were given Bicycles.

‘Smarter to raise Healthy Children than to repair damaged adults'

GOALS FOR 2021 The major goals and outcomes for the 2021 edition of the World changers camp and Women Empowerment are;

 To reach out to 4000 people from 300 communities through our various Youth Development Interventions.  To increase ICT awareness and access by 50% by procuring 40 new laptop computers.  To create alternative skill avenues for 4000 young people through vocational training embedded in the camp curriculum.  To empower 200 young women in our Vocational Entrepreneurial Pathway Initiative.

VOCATIONAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PATHWAY (VEP)

The Vocational Entrepreneurial Pathway (VEP) is the Nneka Youth Foundations initiative aimed at equipping, tooling, and mentoring teenage mothers from rural, deprived communities. These young mothers are taken through vocational skills training, business management training, life skills, psychosocial support, and exhibition. This ties in closely with Sustainable Development Goals 1, 8, and 10 which state: 1. No poverty 8 Decent work and economic growth 10. Reduce inequality. We are poised to provide these vulnerable teen mothers and girls out of school to regain their self- esteem, have fruitful, sustainable economic engagements, and most importantly carve out opportunities for themselves.

PROBLEM STATEMENT Extensive research points to the fact that teenage pregnancy is a major contributory factor to school dropout rates in the Volta Region of Ghana. Volta Region recorded the second-highest adolescent pregnancy cases in Ghana representing 15% of the regional rates for the year 2016, with 2.1% occurring among adolescents between the ages of 10-14, whilst 12.9% cases occurred among adolescents between 14-19 years. A survey of 300 children in 10 JHS in the Afadjato South District showed that 84 of the students interviewed (28%) were predisposed to halting their education at the JHS level. 38 (12.6%) were victims of Teenage Pregnancy thus could not continue their education. 83% of girls who get pregnant prematurely drop out of school. The rate of teen pregnancy among girls aged between 12 and 16 shot up by 23% over the last 5 years. Many of the girls who drop out of school find themselves

‘Smarter to raise Healthy Children than to repair damaged adults'

C13/A/D37, DTD, Sakumono Estates, Te ma Tel: +233 (024) 3110901/ (020) 8122856/ (027) 0405819 [email protected] https://nnekafoundation.org/ Facebook: NNEKA YOUTH Foundation Instagram: nnekafoundation marginalized and their educational journey abruptly curtailed. We are of the firm belief that these girls have a bright future with limitless opportunities.1 These figures were compiled through a survey Nneka Youth Foundation commissioned in 2012 and also premised on statistics provided by the District Education and Health Directorates of the Afadjato South District. We, therefore, seek to actively address the issue of child marriage, both as a result of and as a consequence of teenage pregnancy and other factors. The absence of economic activity amongst young girls is a major causative agent of child marriage in Ghana.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES  To promote economic advancement through vocational training to teenage mothers to equip them with vital skills which will enable them to make a living.

 To reduce the risk of child marriage among teen mothers aged between 14 and 20 by 10% over the next years.  To reduce the stigma associated with teenage pregnancy by reintegrating teen mothers and girls out of school into society through a sustainable pathway.  To minimize neglect, abuse, and violence children face due to depressed situations teen mothers go through.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES  Vocational skills training This includes specialist training in Batik Designing, Beads Making (Jewellery and slippers.) Detergent Making and Cassava Flour Production & Processing into Pastries. Seasoned instructors take the girls through interactive training modules aimed at equipping them with these skills to make quality vocational artifacts.

 Business Management support training We believe in holistic economic empowerment. We, therefore, take participants through key business development and sustainability modules. They are taught, business management, sales techniques, savings, and investment. This is carried out by qualified resource personnel throughout the training period. We aim to monitor business advancement for six months after the training. This enables us effectively monitor and evaluate the impact and offer further support.

 Life skills training and Psychosocial support Participants are taken through training on teamwork, team building, leadership, and other crucial soft skills. Participants are also be given psychosocial boosters to make them more confident.

 Exhibitions

‘Smarter to raise Healthy Children than to repair damaged adults'

C13/A/D37, DTD, Sakumono Estates, Te ma Tel: +233 (024) 3110901/ (020) 8122856/ (027) 0405819 [email protected] https://nnekafoundation.org/ Facebook: NNEKA YOUTH Foundation Instagram: nnekafoundation This activity is a key measurement of output. Participants are required to exhibit what they have created throughout the training.

The skill areas identified were chosen after thorough scouting and economic consultation. Roping in teenage mothers and effectively tooling and equipping them with vocational skills will to a large extent create viable economic pathways for them which will be sustainable. The demand for locally manufactured jewelry as well as slippers has also gone up in recent times. Giving these girls an opportunity to make and trade these will put them on a platform of sustainable income.

As of January 2021, over 700 young women have directly gained viable economic empowerment skills through the Vocational Entrepreneurship Pathway program.

NNEKA AGRO-BASED PROCESSING INITIATIVE

Nneka Palm Oil Women’s Empowerment and Reorientation Scheme(N-POWERS) & VEP CASSAVA FLOUR

The central motive of our initiatives is sustainable empowerment for all stakeholders. As an organization, we pride ourselves on making a lasting impact. The N-POWERS & VEP Cassava Flour initiatives are agro-based value addition initiatives that seek to support women in rural communities to produce quality palm oil and high-quality cassava flour products for sale to support their economic stability.

This project has seen us construct a palm oil processing plant and cassava flour processing machines to aid beneficiaries to efficiently produce palm oil and cassava flour products under more advanced conditions.

We have also tasked ourselves to incorporate them into the palm oil and cassava flour value chain and facilitate routes to the market.

The major aim of these projects is to economically empower these women and safeguard them from abuse.

We currently have about 300 beneficiaries, a number we seek to quadruple in the next 5 years.

CONCLUSION In conclusion, Nneka Youth Foundation is doing a great deal to build bridges of opportunity for vulnerable groups in rural, underserved communities. Our benchmarks have largely been set on sustainable development and impact. Our programs and projects are carefully crafted to benefit all stakeholders.

Going forward, with the requisite support and productive partnerships, we will deliver tangible, scalable transformation to many more communities and beneficiaries

‘Smarter to raise Healthy Children than to repair damaged adults'