Story By: Rahamatu-Lahi Zakaria || Sanatu Zambang
On 29th June 2022, Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-GH) held an orientation for their second cohort ‘The Female Leadership Mentorship Academy’ at the premises of the Northern Regional Library.
The project lead, Khadijah Abdul Samed speaking at the event said the mentorship is going to run for 6month from the day the portal is open for applications till the day of graduation. According to her, the academy is going to empower 200 young girls and women within the northern region with strategic leadership and advocacy skills to participate effectively in decision-making processes.
Madam Patricia Essel, Plan International Ghana, Project lead joined the conversation via a video call focusing on the project ad why it is important for young women to be part of the decision-making process. She said the project is to help young girls unleash what they have and what they can do.
Also joining the conversation via video call was the executive director for SWIDA-GH Hajia Alima Saeed Sagito and that of Girl Child Initiative Dr Sadra who happens to be a partner in the project. They all reiterated the importance of the project and encouraged the girls to take it seriously for their self-development and growth.
The Female Leadership Mentorship Academy is a flagship program of SWIDA-GH’s Leadership initiative under their Women Voice Leadership project with funding from is supported by Plan International Ghana and Global Affairs Canada.
The Academy aims at empowering young girls and women within Northern Region with strategic leadership and advocacy skills to participate effectively in decision-making processes. in collaboration with UDS-Tamale Women Commission and the Girl Child International (USA), SWIDA-GH organised the first edition of the Female Leadership Mentorship Academy in 2021.
The first edition saw 100 mentees graduate from the academy after three months of intensive mentorship from seasoned mentors in the region. Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA GH) is a gender and human advocacy organization which aims at improving the socio-economic lives of the people through access to basic social and economic opportunities and rights.