Survival is a daily struggle for street youth in Ghana. From finding food to eat, clothes to wear and a place to lay their heads down, life and the journey into adulthood can be a road laced with hopelessness and desperation for this often overlooked group. Youth Alive (YA) Ghana provides a variety of services that address and effectively confront issues that spread poverty amongst youth within the local community. One strategic project is the vocational training program which allows at risk youth to learn a trade and gain employable skills that will help them find work, earn an income and be able to support themselves.

Elizabeth Anafu from Bolgatanga (Bolga), Upper East Region transformed difficult circumstances into a positive force that has changed the lives of herself, her family and local community.

Orphaned as a child alongside three siblings, Elizabeth had to learn to fend for herself at a young age. After completing Primary five and at the innocent age of 11, she began travelling regularly between Bolga and Kumasi to find work and earn money to support her family. She eventually found a dishwashing position at a local restaurant but, unable to afford accommodation, frequently found herself sleeping outside of the restaurant after close each night. During this time Elizabeth faced health risks like sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy and low self-esteem due to her unfit living conditions. Following the birth of her son, she finally decided to relocate back home to the familiar Bolga area after hearing about the valuable opportunity YA was offering to train youth.

2005 became a year of revolution in Elizabeth’s life as she became an active participant in YA’s vocational training program. She practiced as a dressmaking apprentice for four years under the careful guidance of a trained seamstress who offered her every opportunity to learn, grow and perfect her craft. As part of the program YA monitored Elizabeth’s progress to ensure her success. She recalls YA’s ‘above and beyond’ attitude, noting that the organization not only provides the apprentices with soap, uniforms, a stipend and counseling but even went as far as helping to pay medical bills so that she was able to continue with the program.

In February 2009, Elizabeth graduated from the program and is now a full-fledged, independent seamstress. She affirms that her success is based on her excellent service which includes creating good relationships with customers and producing quality work. “[They] trust me because of the way I speak to them, ” she says of her customers. Through the integral skills gained through the vocational training program her successful business has given her the means to support her son and three siblings with basic necessities and their education, something she would have struggled to do in the past.

The YA vocational program asks that all graduates provide some form of mentorship to others interested in pursuing the same trade. Currently, Elizabeth has an impressive five apprentices under her care. She is very encouraging and tries to provide opportunities for young women to learn from her so that they can also improve their living situation, as YA has done for her.

Although currently operating outside, in the open, Elizabeth’s next project will be putting up a building for her own shop which she hopes to fittingly name, “With God, All Things are Possible”. Elizabeth hopes this expansion will provide enough space for all her apprentices and to display materials in-store for the customers to buy. YA helps all program graduates establish their first shop and will supply building materials like roofing sheets, wood and cement to aid the completion of the structure and the next step in Elizabeth’s bright and hopeful future.

Abdul spent his childhood until his late teens guiding his blind father around town to beg, the only source of income for his family. His family was desperately poor and none of the children could afford to attend school. Abdul heard about Youth Alive’s work and approached them for help.

I am now very proud of myself because of the transformation that has taken place in my life. I no longer depend on anybody for survival. Without Youth Alive, life would have been very miserable. I can never thank the organisation enough for their support” Abdul
I was told that I was to be placed under a master craft person to learn the trade I had suggested to them. This was the turning point in my life. Youth Alive placed me under a master craft person as an apprentice, paid my initiation fee and presented me with some tools to enable me learn the trade. I worked as an apprentice for three years. While I was learning the trade, Youth Alive gave me an allowance and a bar of soap every month. I graduated as a fully fledged vulcanizer in 2003. Youth Alive again presented me with a set of working tools including a compressor machine and start up capital for my own business

With Youth Alive’s support Abdul became an apprentice of vulcanizing and now owns his own, successful tyre business. He supports his whole family, providing food, paying his siblings’ school fees and is helping 6 apprentices of his own build their future. Most importantly, his own child is going to be able to go to school. For Abdul and the wider family he supports, they have escaped the trap of their disadvantaged beginnings.

The Youth in Governance project is in full swing at the mid-year mark in the lead up to the December 2012 elections in Ghana. The partnership project with STAR Ghana is operating across all three Northern regions to educate and engage young adults in peaceful participation before, during and after the voting season. Members of Bolgatanga’s (Bolga) youth community recently added their voice to the call for peace to ensure the safe, progressive and democratic development of the nation.

Thursday, June 14 saw the gathering of YA’s constituents from the Bolga lorry park and Ghana Private Road Transport Union leading their friends, colleagues and community members in a march through the city’s main street. Featuring colourful and prolific banners painted with peace slogans, the procession danced the streets accompanied by a brass band to draw attention to their cause. The sheer enthusiasm of people from all walks of life was in full unison as believers of the cause carried the message of peace forward.

The street youth leaders addressed the crowd by highlighting some of the current barriers to a peaceful election and urged the community, individual parties and governing bodies to implement necessary solutions to ensure a free and fair democratic process. Registration issues including double registration and soliciting of minors brought forward the need for security agencies to be present at polling stations to monitor activities. Additionally security would ensure enthusiastic party supporters do not instigate conflict with rival party supporters.

The youth called on each political party to avoid the common practice of opponent-bashing and to rather focus on the plans to implement positive changes in the lives of millions of Ghanaians. Finally they addressed the need for the Electoral Commission to implement a feedback system for the public to file complaints instead of resorting to violence.

Representatives from the national Inter Party Advisory Committee were present to receive a petition signed by the street youth and their community members. The committee’s mandate is to advise political parties to comply with the rules and regulation laid down in each parties’ code of conduct. The youth vowed to comply with electoral rules and regulations by discouraging violence (physical and verbal), refusing bribes and abiding by official procedures during each stage.

Posted by Hawa Kombian

Fresh off the heels of April’s graduation ceremony, a collection of up to 50 past and present vocational training students reunited for the introduction of a new and exciting initiative to support their growing businesses. On Saturday, June 2nd Youth Alive (YA) relaunched its first round of financial literacy programming in partnership with Barclays Bank Ghana and Tools for Self Reliance (TFSR). Delivered by Barclays Bank representatives with solid experience in business and financial management, the program promises to develop and foster the skills and attitudes needed for business success. The series of workshops will cover important facets of entrepreneurship and provide a forum for sharing ideas, questions and concerns with peers and professionals.

Local Chief, Dakpema Mahamadu Alhassan Dawuni was on hand to formally launch the session at the YA Northern Region Head Office in Tamale. He spoke to the importance of engaging youth in income generating ventures as a proven deterrent against unnecessary conflict and a catalyst for prosperity in the community.

YA Director Agnes Chiravira was proud to welcome back old and new faces from the vocational training program and invited their active participation by sharing successful business ideas and practices. She praised the leadership of old graduates in supporting vulnerable youth through their ventures and challenged the new graduates to further champion the cause. “[Your training and success] is for all the vulnerable youth in Tamale,”

Mr. Mohammed Basit of Barclays Bank introduced the inaugural session’s theme: Enhancing Effective Growth of Small Scale Business. He challenged the group to adhere to seven management strategies that would ensure sustainability, growth and the ultimate success of their ventures. The presentation discussed issues regarding the establishment of business procedures, internal and external environment assessments, business goals and customer service excellence. Rounding off the session, Mr. Quao drove home the impact of self-discipline on business. Basic yet imperative principles such as honesty, confidentiality, punctuality and overall responsibility were addressed as demonstrations of serious and successful entrepreneurs.

The beneficiaries had a strong and vocal response to the information provided and knowledge gained from the workshop. Many of them were grateful for the opportunity to attend the presentation and acknowledged the increased need for such support in enhancing the quality and scope of their business activities. Ever the ambitious group, many also further inquired as to how to secure expanded funding from financial institutions like Barclays Bank to make their dreams of growth a reality.

YA financial literacy programs have been launched and will continue throughout the Northern (Tamale), Upper East (Bolgatanga) and Upper West (Wa) Regions. Partnership programs like this one ensure the sustainable development and success of YA student trainees and ensure that organizational programs have the broadest impact possible throughout the local community. You can continue to support our beneficiaries by giving through our website.

It is well known that youth are amongst the least informed when it comes to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and are therefore the most susceptible to the ill effects of sexual activity. The problem is compounded amongst street youth who often lack the parental guidance or education to be knowledgeable about safe and available options.

Through the first quarter of 2012 Youth Alive (YA) initiated a local campaign to heighten the awareness, attention and action of the youth in taking control of their sexual and reproductive health (SRH). 35 communities across the Wa municipality were host to a variety of educational programs aimed at youth ages 10-24. The project’s main objectives were to increase knowledge of SRH, access to relevant services and positive behaviours among the sexually active. As a joint community initiative, several youth friendly facilities and organizations were also involved to provide services and expertise on the topic.

These objectives were addressed through an assortment of engaging tactics including film shows and peer education. The film shows were organized in 9 communities where partner organizations helped lead a community session about the reality and seriousness of sexually transmitted infections and diseases (STIs & STDs). A documentary on HIV, AIDS, and maternal mortality was shown, followed by a discussion revolving around pictures of STIs and STDs.

The forum was a success that generated much discussion and participation from the youth. Additionally, members of Ghana Health Services simultaneously provided counseling and testing services at each event. The youth openly appreciated the need to know their HIV/AIDS status so they can live more responsible lives. Most of the people who tested were male who are in their adolescent age.

Throughout the 35 participating communities, YA engaged volunteers and youth peers to share experiences in a safe, non-threatening and non-judgmental environment. Supervisory and monitoring visits by the project officer that many peer educators had formed community clubs to address specific and persistent SRH issues.

The success of this ongoing program is a credit to the youth themselves and their desire to become informed and actively involved in self-protection.

The past two weeks have been busy for Youth Alive in our recent work with bringing a peaceful election in Ghana this year. Thanks to funding from STAR-Ghana, on March 15th Youth Alive had its first meeting with street youth leaders at the Tizza. The youth leaders came from the Abaobo market, the central bus stop of Tamale and the Metro Mass Station. This meeting equipped them with the knowledge necessary to inform the youth about the upcoming election and the importance of voting. Topics covered were the concept of democracy, why voting is important, and the reasons and processes behind the biometric voting registration system.

Key Speakers at the conference included Alhaji Saani Abdul-Razak, the Metro Director for the NCC, Steven Azantilow, Lawyer for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and Francis Opoko, the Metro Director of the Electoral Commission. Youth Leaders were encouraged to voice their questions and concerns to the speakers, especially regarding biometric registration because of its unfamiliar process.

Saturday April 28, 2012 was a momentous occasion that brought together of Youth Alive’s (YA) graduating apprentices, their trainers and sponsors.

All corners of the community gathered to acknowledge, celebrate and witness the launch of YA’s freshest batch of apprentice graduates at Jubilee Park in Bolgatanga (Bolga). 45 students passed through the organization’s ambitious program to become fully certified tradespeople trained in a variety of skills including hairdressing, dressmaking, carpentry, masonry and auto machinery.

The graduates, hailing from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, were joined by proud family and friends, instructors, members of the YA community and a host of invited guests who happily wished them the best at this significant turning point in their lives.

YA Director Agnes Chiravira highlighted the organization’s many initiatives that strive to create opportunities for youth to reach their goals, succeed and become independent. She also stressed the impact of giving back to the community and encouraged all beneficiaries to, “Stretch out [their] hands and touch other lives.”

The day would not have even been possible without the support and contribution of organizational sponsors Tools for Self Reliance and Barclays Bank. Both organizations’ assistance greatly fostered the development and success of YA’s vocational training program by providing necessary tools and training equipment. Barclays Bank, which has donated over Ghȼ 100, 000 to the program, was wholly represented by managers from across Ghana who were able to witness the result of the fruitful partnership.

Community Relations Manager, Mr. Nana Benneh urged the students not to take the opportunity given them for granted. He announced the introduction of Barclays Bank facilitation programs to further enhance the quality of support of the bank to YA beneficiaries in general. The programs include financial skills training and mentoring projects to support new graduates in establishing their independent businesses.

As proud and optimistic as all attendees were, the graduates were equally thankful and determined to make the most of their chance to establish themselves in their various fields. Each beneficiary was given an assortment of materials relevant to their trade to jumpstart their private businesses. Additionally, they would each receive 16 pieces of aluminium roofing sheets to aid the development of a shop structure. The female graduates would further receive five bags of cement each. The students were eager to express their gratitude through a variety of performance pieces including an original song, “Youth Alive”, poetry readings and a collective drama skit that educated the public on the need for unity and tolerance as the nation prepares to go to the polls for the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in December.

Following the distribution of certificates, the graduates posed for pictures with the donated materials they would use to begin new enterprises. The day was a massive success thanks to the efforts of all those involved in making YA’s vocational training program accessible to the marginalized youth in our community. The new graduates will not soon forget the generosity of their program organizers, trainers and sponsors who have provided an incomparable alternative to their difficult circumstances of the past. Our new graduates are filled with the desire to do better; for themselves, their families and the community. They are living and breathing examples to us all of the promise for a bright and prosperous Ghana.

Arahama is the fourth child of her parents, and a twin. A complicated, delayed birth caused her to have severe learning difficulties with hearing and speech problems. Tragically, she was rejected by her father due to her disability. Her parents divorced when she was 7 years old and she moved with her mother to live in a single room at her grandparents' home.

"Sometimes Arahama gets lost in the community and I have to search for hours to find her. I have to guide her all the time. She is a burden to me and my family, but I have no choice – it is the will of God."
- Arahama's mother
Youth Alive became aware of Arahama's situation through work with a government community representative. We were able to intervene and support Arahama's enrollment in Yumba Special School, a local institution for children with severe learning disabilities.

The specialist support she receives has helped her family better understand her condition and has had a transformative effect on Arahama. Her psychomotor and cognitive skills are improving, and she is beginning to try to form words. As soon as Arahama started school, her mother found employment selling yams in the market, gaining new independence and pride in being able to provide for her family.

"People who said Arahama is a write-off will now swallow their words. She can now brush her teeth, eat, bathe and wash dishes. She can be heard reciting things she has learnt from school. In fact there is massive improvement in her life. It is a big relief for me. I am also now able to engage in petty trading. I no longer worry about her future."
- Arahama's mother
Your support makes stories like Arahama's possible. Consider donating today to help more children with disabilities get the support they need.

In December 2011, Ernestina Akakiya, Patricia Alemna and Linda Atobila graduated from the University for Development Studies, becoming the first Youth Alive sponsored females to complete university education.

Ernestina and Patricia studied Integrated Development Studies (IDS) specializing in Economics Entrepreneurship and Political Science respectively. Linda studied Agricultural Technology with a specialization in Animal Science and returned to UDS to perform her national service as a teaching assistant in the agricultural department before completing her service with the Ghana Revenue Authority.

"These young women have overcome tremendous challenges to achieve their dreams. Their success paves the way for other girls in Northern Ghana to believe that higher education is within their reach."

All of us here at Youth Alive are incredibly proud of what these remarkable women have accomplished, and wish them the best for their futures! They stand as an inspiration to the numerous girls who face difficulties and might consider giving up on their dreams.