YOUNG URBAN WOMEN

In Ghana, woman form about 50% of the country’s population, yet women are limited in taking part in decision making such as political, economic, sexual and sociocultural issues.


This situation is worse in the northern region of Ghana, due to entrenched cultural, religious and social belief systems. Based on these, ActionAid Ghana conceived the young urban women project to address the challenging issues surrounding young women’s livelihood and sexual health. 


With funding support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, ’’NORAD’’,  ActionAid Ghana partnered with NORSAAC in the Northern Region and Ark Foundation in the Greater Accra region. to ensure that in ‘’ 2 and half years, 2000 young women aged between 15 to 25 years in Ghana will have greater dignity through  economic independence, control over their bodies, and their voices will be heard and recognized in international forums. The project focuses on three thematic areas; sexual and reproductive health rights, decent work and unpaid care work.

The project goal is been achieved using 3 strategies. 1000 young women have been mobilized from 9 communities in tamale, namely BUIPELA, TUUTINGLI, KPANVO,KALARIGA, VITTIN, DABOKPA,KAKPAGYILI, Nalung and BANVUM.

-Empowerment

-Campaigning

-Solidarity 

The 1000 young women are into 40 groups and each group consist of 25 members, each group meets twice in a month at the resource center located in Tuutingli. 

Ayisha has supported a number of young women to identify a sustainable area of livelihood such as beads making, local cloth weaving, hairdressing, tailoring and smock weaving.

'' I was a group member, moved to a group leader and now a peer educator. I have experienced the reality of living and managing different characters. Through this project I have gained increased knowledge on SRHR and this has motivated me to become a marketing agent of Mario Stoppes international since June, 2014 and has since then referred over 50 young women to the center for SRH services.

As a peer educator, I support in holding meetings, supporting group members to look out for each other and empowering them on unpaid care work, decent work and sexual and reproductive health rights. '' says Ayisha.



Iklima Abubakari 
'' I was a young mother of 2 girls struggling to find a sustainable livelihood as I had no education. When I joined this project, I was shy, could not talk in public or negotiate issues with my husband. The project helped me to identify my potential in beads making and my living standard has improved as I now make beads and sell without stress. I have enough rest and not manipulated by any employer. No work can be more decent then this beads making.''

Martha Aminu from Kalariga 
'' I was a young mother with 1 girl. I had numerous household burden such that I could not further my interest in learning hairdressing. From the project training and sensitisations, I was able to negotiate better with my husband and had reduced care burden. I now used the extra time gain to improve my knowledge on hairdressing. I am a member of GHABA and with the networks I am building through this project, I can see a brighter future with financial sustainability, control over my body and strong social standing. ''


The Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA) is a body that protects the collective rights of hairdressers in Ghana. The Young Urban Women project in Tamale works with 
GHABA and other associations to enhance young women access to decent work. One of such associations is the Ghana Progressive Hairdressers and Beauticians Associations (GHPABA).

Hawa

'' The project has trained us and other associations on decent work, the labour act and sexual harassment at the work place.

Our knowledge increased on labour act

We have reviewed our constitution to capture the rights of apprentice.''

Memunatu Ibrahim from Dabopka

'' I was learning tailoring for 5years without graduating under a master who was not in any association. My master treated me bad, no respect and no allowance for my continuous stay in the shop like other masters do.

The project trained us on decent work, labour act and sexual harassment with the associations. I gained courage to report the issues to the Ghana National Dressmakers and Tailors Association (GNDTA) people and with the help of CHRAJ, I was rescued from the pain.

The project further supported me to further my learning with someone from GNDTA and I encourage all young women to learn skills with masters who are in associations so that they can enjoy decent work. ''

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) also played a key role in supporting young women enjoy decent work and control over their body.

The young urban women are also leading the process of change through an advocacy platform.

We have built a relationship with CHRAJ to improve the outlook of our constitution. 


The advocacy platform is currently a 36 member body from the 1000 young women.
The advocacy platform campaign and demand for changes on women’s challenges in accessing; Sexual and Reproductive Health services, decent work and reducing unpaid care burden of women.  

Rafiu fishbone in the blue T shirt and black jeans with some of the Young Urban Women group

Ismatu Yakubu said, the advocacy platform does; radio discussions, participation of CHRAJ, collaboration with Bilpiela Health Centre in running the adolescent corner, collaboration with Tamale Metropolitan Assembly for non-forma educational support for non-lettered young urban women, improved relationship among young women from 9 communities.

Beyond the project, my beginning skills of journalism shall expand into reporting and unearthing of women issues for the attention of all that matter for a positive change.

I shall also continue to support all women to build their capacities to make changes in their lives and the lives of others.


The Young Urban Women Project in Tamale also works with the Tamale Metropolitan Health Directorate, Tamale Central Health center, Vittin Health Center and the Beilpela Health Center to increase young women knowledge and access to friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services. 


The efforts of young women have yielded significant changes in the Bilpiela Health Center. Hajia Awabu Abubakari is a Mid Wife at the Bilpiela Health Centre, she added

'' Participating in training on Youth Friendly sexual and reproductive health service provision

Technical support for the center for Marie Stoppes International Ghana to provide equipment for Adolescent Center with NORSAAC providing a deck stand.

Young urban women support to run the center Increased access to Sexual and Reproductive Health services for young women ''

Most of the Challenges women face in life can in one way or the other have varied effects on men and society at a large. For this reason NORSAAC formed the male support team of nine men representing the nine communities of the young urban women project.

The male support team provides assistance to the young urban women in addressing challenging issues on unpaid care burden, access to sexual and reproductive health services and decent work. 

Fuseina Mother told Rafiu Fishbone

''Young women problems are their mother problems too Story of fuseina (teenage pregnancy, drop out of school, i was supporting her to go to kayayei, when her friends introduced her to the YOUNG URBAN WOMEN, now i am against  kayayei and currently she is learning smock weaving)''

The Young Urban Women Project has been working closely with all the chiefs and elders of the nine communities; Tuutingli, Bilpiela, Kpanvo, Dabokpa, Vittin, Banvum, Kalariga, Kakpagyili and Nalung . 

The Young Urban Women Project in Tamale implemented by NORSAAC has successfully empowered over 1000 young women from 9 communities and has built solidarity among these young women and key stakeholders of the Tamale metropolis.


NORSAAC shall continue to support the young women to enhance the collaboration with stakeholder and identify new relationships that will support the cause of the young urban women project.