As children grow from adolescence into adulthood, it is normal for them to begin to get attracted to the opposite sex. However, the lack of proper guidance through this journey sometimes leads teenagers to make poor choices that cause them to go astray.
Visiting the Adaklu Kodzobi D/A Basic School and the Adaklu Dzakpo D/A Basic School in the Adaklu district in the Volta region, a team of youths from the All Love Foundation from Accra took the time to educate pupils on sexual and reproductive health and provide some resources to help them learn without struggles.
They said the aim of their visit was to supplement what their teachers had already taught them on the subject and to inspire them to take their education seriously. The Deputy Organizer, Mr. John Dentey, took the opportunity to encourage the children to take their studies seriously. He shared that they had been in similar situations before, attending school in remote villages like theirs, yet they thrived and became successful.
In a highly interactive session with the pupils of the Adaklu Kodzobi D/A Basic School, 64 girls and 33 boys between the ages of 13 to 17 discussed what they had already learned about sexual and reproductive health. The team from the All Love Foundation helped them build on their knowledge with the aid of their teachers and officials from the Ghana Education Service.
The pupils were also educated on how to avoid falling victim to sexual abuse by avoiding private spaces with the opposite sex, especially adults, and being assertive in suspicious situations involving adults. They were instructed to report any such issues to their counselors as quickly as possible. This was in response to a question asked by one of the pupils during the question-and-answer session.
Among the lessons taught, the children learned the ABCs of sexual reproduction: A for Abstinence, B for “Be faithful to a partner,” and C for using Contraceptives. They were firmly encouraged to choose abstinence above the rest, as it is the best option until they complete their education and get married.
Education in Ghana faces various challenges, but those in deprived areas and remote communities are often the most affected. Due to the lack of financial strength on the part of parents to provide for their basic needs, the All Love Foundation also donated different items to aid the learning process of the children. The items included 2,000 exercise books, 400 sanitary pads, 350 pens, 150 pencils, 150 erasers, 21 shoes, and 400 small books for KG pupils. A total of about 500 children from KG 1 up to JHS 3 received various items at the event.
The organizer of the group, Mrs. Eunice Korkor Obiri, also took the opportunity to educate the adolescent girls on how to use and properly dispose of the sanitary pads, either by burying or burning them.
Speaking with the Assistant Head Teacher of the Adaklu Dzakpo D/A Basic School at the event on Thursday, June 27, 2024, he expressed deep gratitude to the team, confirming that the education and donations would go a long way in aiding the learning process in the school, as some children lacked these basic resources needed to make learning proceed smoothly.
By Desmond Tinana
