CAMFED, NSS Signs MOU to Help Marginalized Girls To Secure Sustainable Livelihood
Fairuza Safian, the National Director of Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) Ghana, said the partnership, established with the National Service Scheme, seeks to address critical gaps in the education sector while empowering female students to excel in STEM fields.
Safian emphasized that CAMFED’s focus within this partnership is to champion STEM education among females. Additionally, the organization aims to tackle pressing issues such as the teacher-pupil ratio, gender inequality, and rural-urban disparities in education.
Moreover, CAMFED plans to deploy female university graduates with science backgrounds to schools in CAMFED partner districts. These graduates will serve as Learner Guides, delivering the innovative ‘My Better World’ curriculum, designed to inspire and empower young learners.
In a bid to enhance the capacity of educators, CAMFED will collaborate with the National Service Scheme to train personnel on the ‘My Better World’ curriculum. This proactive approach aims to equip teachers with the necessary tools to deliver quality education effectively.
Strategic alignment
Speaking about the strategic alignment of this partnership, Safian highlighted that it falls within CAMFED’s new strategic plan for 2024 to 2029. The organization envisions tripling its impact over 30 years, with a particular emphasis on supporting marginalized girls and enabling young women to secure sustainable livelihoods.
CAMFED’s strategic plan is structured into three levels of action. Level 1 focuses on implementing a comprehensive support system for marginalized girls, while Level 2 aims to facilitate the transition of young women into leadership roles. At Level 3, CAMFED endeavors to drive the adoption of best practices in national education systems on a large scale.
Safian expressed optimism about the potential impact of the partnership, believing it will address crucial education challenges and contribute to achieving national and international education goals. Particularly, she emphasised the importance of Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which aims to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.
NSS part
Osei Assibey Antwi, the Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with CAMFED Ghana during a recent announcement ceremony. Antwi highlighted the scheme’s dedication to adding value to the lives of National Service Personnel (NSPs), particularly in underserved regions such as the North of Ghana.
The partnership aims to empower women NSPs by enhancing their skills, enabling them to contribute significantly to their families, communities, and the nation as a whole. Antwi commended CAMFED Ghana for its tireless efforts in promoting quality education for girls and empowering women, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) four.
Antwi elaborated on the NSS’s priorities, including agriculture, education, health, administrative support, policing, and sanitation. He emphasized the scheme’s focus on educating NSPs about the importance of their service through Campus Orientation programs.
Moreover, Antwi revealed the NSS’s new initiative, “Deployment for Employment,” which focuses on developing NSPs’ skills to meet the demands of the job market or entrepreneurship. One key area of focus is agriculture, where the NSS is partnering with Agri-Impact Consult to train tertiary graduates in modern farming techniques.
Antwi highlighted the scheme’s efforts to engage women in agriculture, noting their interest in greenhouse farming. Through the “Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY)” initiative, NSS is facilitating the placement of fresh graduates on farms to gain practical experience and become entrepreneurs.
Furthermore, Antwi announced the NSS’s acquisition of 20,000 hectares of land in Kumawu for agricultural purposes. This initiative aims to expose NSPs, particularly women, to modern farming practices, including agric engineering. He emphasized the scheme’s commitment to gender equality, noting the significant participation of women in various agricultural ventures.
Currently, the NSS has 500 university graduates undergoing training in modern farming in Abobeki, with a focus on IT training for women to develop apps and programming skills.
The partnership between NSS and CAMFED represents a significant step towards empowering women and enhancing agricultural skills, ultimately contributing to Ghana’s socioeconomic development.
