Making informed life choices: @InspireAfrica challenges JHS school girls
A Ghanaian based NGO, @InspireAfrica, has instituted a novel initiative for children dubbed ‘BeamAfrica’ with the approval of the Ghana Education Service (GES).
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BeamAfrica is a premier initiative by @InspireAfrica aimed at tackling practical life issues that affect today’s children by empowering them with the relevant skills to make informed life decisions.
The first episode, which took place last Friday at the St. Andrews Anglican School, Achimota, focused on the topic Choosing Career Paths.
Speaking at the workshop, the instructor, Mrs. Akua Owusu-Nartey, Managing Director of Publicis West Africa took the JHS 3 students of St. Andrews Anglican School through a number of sessions, emphasizing the need for children to be passionate about their respective careers.
She also urged them to consistently add value to themselves by acquiring the right skills set through education and training in order to excel and stand out in all they do.
“For instance, a photographer undertaking customer service training, in addition to further photography training, would not only improve their photography skills but also, their customer service skills to handle their clientele in a more professional manner”, she explained. She added that “Choosing a career at an early age is very essential in your path to success, as such, you all need to be aware of the drawbacks that accompany each professions, and always re-evaluate the various careers with a positive mindset”.
The students were also given the opportunity to pose questions and comment on the workshop. During a feedback session, a JHS 3 student asked what would be the best approach towards financial difficulty when trying to pursue a career she is passionate about. The speaker shared a personal life experience of how she held a job when she was still in the university.
Mrs. Owusu-Nartey counseled that employing creative solutions such as working part time while schooling during such challenges may be one of the best approaches. “You will be able to acquire some work experience and at the same time address your financial difficulties”, she added.
Another student praised @Inspire Africa for the initiative, saying that the workshop was an eye opener.
Mrs Owusu-Nartey’s asked the students to put extra efforts in their studies, stressing that the girls should step up and take on new emerging careers and equally challenging jobs that have traditionally been dominated by males.
The Founder of @Inspire Africa, Mr. Kenny Nii Tackie Tagoe called on corporate institutions, government agencies, foreign missions and philanthropists to support the NGO in order to sustain the BeamAfrica programme.