Global Teenager Project, Ghana | Global Junior Challenge

Youth sustainable development and basic ICT training for the less endowed in our communities.

1. Project summary

Summary:

The global teenager project Ghana is a youth lead project into areas of sustainable development and basic ICT training for the less endowed or underprivileged in our communities and schools. The idea came up as a results of the Global Teenager project by IICD(International Institute for communication Development) which connects schools and teachers around the world one one platform to exchange ideas on many important issues.Hence we made it up here also to put the local communities tohether on one platform to collaborate and exchange ideas from diversity to natioanl development.The idea was developed by the Rescue Mision Ghana and its now applied in about four major cities in the countries and i am the Ashanti Regional cordinator for well over three years now.

2. Country (City / Region)

State:

Ghana

City:

Ashanti

3. Company/organization/institute presenting the project

Organization:

Rescue Mission Ghana / Global Teenager Project,Ghana

4. Type of organization

Select type:

Cultural Institution (foundations, museums, galleries, etc…)

5. Project coordinator

Name and Surname:

Abdulai Abubakar

E-Mail:

beebabagh@yahoo.com

6. Website

The website of the project:

http://www.rescuemission.org.gh

7. Please select the category in which you candidate your project

Youth Education Project. Select Project Users by age:

Up to 18 years

Helping youth step in the job market:

NOT Helping youth step in the job market

Creativity and Social Innovation:

NOT in Creativity and Social Innovation

8. How long has your project been running?

From:

26/07/2001

9. Targets and Elements of Innovation

Please explain the targets and the background of your project:

We put our focus on these major areas:
* Basic ICT training of about 56 students in the less endowed areas spanning about 7 schools in each reions of about 4 out of 10 regions in Ghana

• Training of out-of school students

• Public awareness campaign of HIV/AIDS

• Sustainable training in craftsmanship.

What does it try to achieve and how:

• Breaking the communication Gap: Many are those who are lacking behind in this global village due to minimal exposure to the Information, communication technology (ICT). So we have been focusing on training the youth in this line of action.

• Education of the youth on the concept of sustainable development ; Out of school students or the underprivileged are taken through series of training to acquaint themselves on the need to get some skills or to build up their skills so they can make a living from their own ability. And this will be maintained

• Elaborating the deadly disease to the public: Public awareness campaign is being organized in order to keep the public informed on the way and manner to handle the HIV/Aids disease and the affected persons, and to promote a healthy sexual lifestyle among the youth.

• Youth Empowerment: Both in and out of school youth are being taken through short courses on youth leadership in order to add their voices to the issues of national concern.

Which opportunities/problems does it address to:

We conducted an extensive research on the need to establish this project and so we have targeted young people aged 12 to 25 to benefit directly from this project

These people are Ghanaians at school going age and out of school young people. Most of them are within four regions(Ashanti,Central,Greater Accra And Western Regions) and few are living in the Northern region. And we plan to make it a well-balanced in terms of gender.

When we look around Ghana and in most of the regions, many are those who are school drop-outs and many who are even in school but lack the basic knowlege of ICT which is a common phenomenon in Europe and America.So as an NGO we strife to clump down on the digital divide.

Please explain what is unique or special in your project:

This project does not only train students to build their capacity but make it a sustainable training so that the beneficiaries who could otherwise become drop-outs and vagabond will have some skills to rely on which can fetch them job in the market, hence improving their lifestyle and becoming productive individuals in the society.

The public awareness on the HIV/AIDS also help students who are sexually active to know what is right and wrong and what can harm their educational goals like the teenage pregnancy etc.

We also teach students to be active and participate in the development agenda of the country.
Again, we do not discriminate on the basis of gender, ethnicity, and religion and or on color. All have equal opportunities to benefit from our programmes.

10. Results

Describe the results of your project as per today:

We have so far been able to teach about 56 students in every Region (every year) in Basic ICT training and web design, HIV/AIDS training, sustainable youth development in the less endowed areas spanning about 7 schools in each region.
As a results, we have received international recognitions and many of our students have received awards by participating in international contest.

How does it fulfill the users’ needs:

We train the students or the out of school youth at their own free time even though the sustainable development centre has an opening and closing time. But in the case of conducting classes and training in their respective institutions, we arrange for suitable time for the students and us.

How many users interact with your project per month and what are the preferred forms of interaction:

About 56 students in each school in every region spanning about 7 schools per region.

How has it improved the quality of educational and/or training services:

Positively, many of our educational institutions are ICT oriented and so our students get an upper hand while furthering their education or when in business ventures.

How does it promote the use of ICT for the educational and cultural development by professionals, children and youth:

It has really helped many students to excel in ICT and this has been demonstrated in many international contest and local contest as well, many are those who have found job for themselves and are living a healthy life.

11. Sustainability

What is the full duration of your project:

More than 6 years

What is the approximate total budget for your project (in USD):

From 10.001 to 30.000

What is the source of funding for your project:

Sponsorships

Is your project economically self sufficient now:

12. Transferability

Has your project been replicated/adapted elsewhere:

Yes

Specify:

We understand as results of the Global teenager project, many countries have adapted our style and methodology to create sustainable social training centres in other West African Countries

What lessons can others learn from your project:

Perseverance and determination to serve humanity is our key goals, and so any body that has this in mind can help to alleviate untold sufferings of the underprivileged.

We are available to help others starting or working on similar projects:

We are not available to help others starting or working on similar projects.

13. Background information

Background:

Making the change will be a youth lead project into areas of sustainable development and basic ICT training for the less endowed or underprivileged in our community. We will focus on these major areas,
* Basic ICT training of about 56 students in the less endowed areas spanning about 7 schools

• Training of out-of school students

• Public awareness campaign of HIV/AIDS

• Sustainable training in craftsmanship.

Barriers:

-Funding
-Diversity
-Resources Persons

Solutions:

We were very resilient in making the project successful and train rather few students at times due to funding rather than quitting the whole project. Many of our past students also contribute voluntarily to help other students

Future plans and wish list:

* To educate young people in the concept of sustainable development

*Youth empowerment in the areas of national agenda

Linking of Ghanaian youth and their peers in other continents

*Improvements in the areas of sexual lifestyle amongst the youth

• Making the youth more active in day to day activities

• Allowing the youth to exhibit their artistic skills

• Promoting a well-balanced gender in all manner of activities

We are currently under-resources and will welcome support from international donors and other interested parties.

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