March 2024

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The nonprofit organization Achievers Ghana is providing education to more than 200 girls in the east and north Ayawaso constituencies of Accra. The organization identifies vulnerable children, provides scholarships, runs skill training programs, and raises awareness on the issues that these girls face. It was founded by Ghanaians and is mostly financed through the local community.

How it began  

The story behind Achievers began with a brave young girl named Amina Ismeal Daru. Living in a slum in Accra, she was forced in marriage when she was 12 years old. Luckily, her teachers rescued her and Amina was able to pursue her education. Many girls in Ghana share Amina’s experiences, but not all are lucky enough to escape it and stay in school. To prevent girls from suffering this fate, Amina helped found the Achievers in 2011. She was nominated for the Children’s Peace Prize in 2012.

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The mission

In Ghana, People who live in slums face problems such as poverty and disease on a daily basis. Without education, it is very difficult to break the cycle of poverty. Women and girls tend to suffer the most; many are forced to marry young and cannot complete their education. Achievers hopes to remedy this problem. A key part of their missions is the saying:

“If you educate a man you educate an individual and if educate a woman you educate a nation.”  

An educated woman will pass her skills on to her family. Secondly, education increases the chances to find employment.

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What they do

The organization has five core activities. Education is the top priority – it provides money for school books and uniforms. The girls’ progress in school, like their grades and attendance, are tracked. The next important activity is mentoring. Older females are assigned as mentors to younger girls through five programs: providing shelter if a girl has disputes with her family, helping the girls learn how to live independently, identifying any girl at risk, and helping them with their schooling. The third is skills development, with extracurriculars such as debating and public speaking. The fourth activity is organizing excursions outside of the Nima slum to expand the girls’ horizons and inspire them. And the final core activity consists in raising awareness to the issues these girls face throughout the community; local schools and guest speakers are involved. Achievers Ghana is also involved in HIV/AIDS education, building counseling capacity within the community by providing training to mentors, supporting service to programs relating to the education of girls, and counseling infected and affected female children on one on one or small group basis to cover development and unlock their exceptional talent.

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SEE ALSO: 1 Million Children Cannot Go To School Because Of Boko Haram.