Save the Rural Dweller Project Ghana

The ''Save the Rural Dweller'' project is a joint initiative by the Student World Assembly -Ghana Section (http://www.studentworldassembly.org) and the Global Youth Action Network-Ghana Section http://www.youthlink.org). The project is a ten (10) year Volunteer programme based on the Millenium development Goals MDGs).

BACKGROUND

To state that youth are the future of any nation would be stating the obvious. The Youth can play an important role in shaping their societies. One sure way that youth can be mobilized and engaged in activities in the community, Regional and National level is by building on and promoting a culture of volunteerism and a culture of selfless community service.

There is no doubt that volunteerism brings benefits to both the individual and the society at large. It makes important contributions for both economic and social development of communities and nations.

Young people’s contributions to their communities and nations are not entirely understood or maximized. Youth are making a difference as activists, as leaders in community development, and by their record levels of volunteerism.

In many parts of the world, they may be perceived as apathetic or disengaged, but this is largely inaccurate. Worldwide, youth are bypassing traditional forms of political participation (i.e. voting) through their activism and volunteering. However, the global youth movement is characterized by fragmentation, resulting in isolated actions that do not reach their full potential, often due to a lack of resources, access to knowledge and information, and institutional barriers. Without the guidance, understanding, support, and recognition of government leaders, and other decision-makers, young leaders are often unequipped to fully participate in the decisions that are affecting their lives.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Over the past several decades, a number of countries have initiated the design and implementation of national policies and strategies focused on youth. However, most countries do not have specific structures in place for effective youth participation. Neither have they successfully managed to mainstream youth concerns, as the issues relating to young people fall across a variety of policy areas such as education, health or juvenile delinquency.

Despite youth constituting more than 50% of the population in many countries, governments rarely consult young people on matters affecting their lives, such as poverty reduction strategy efforts. Even those governments that have developed legislation on youth issues often lack comprehensive and holistic approaches to the challenges faced by the younger generation.

A progressive national youth policy obliges traditional decision-makers to not only work for young people, but with them in order to let their experiences inform the development of appropriate interventions and services.

Governments and International bodies have initiated a number of policies such as the SAPs, CASs, PRSPs, MDGS, NEPAD, HIPC etc aimed at development. NGOs, CBOs, and Youth associations have also embarked on numerous campaigns and projects around the globe aimed at tackling developmental issues, women empowerment, child welfare, health, environmental sustainability, peace building and conflict transformation. Success has been achieved on various occasions and on the other hand failure in spite of the resources and energy that has been pumped into issues of this nature to make a change.

Everyday at the various entry points to Accra, the capital city and some of the major cities of Ghana there is an influx of youth trooping in from all over the towns and villages to the cities in search of jobs. Some engage in prostitution and have been victims of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other hazardous diseases. Many others resort to armed robbery and other social malpractices to make ends meet.

Demographic studies show that some of these children are surprisingly as young as 10 years old who engage in “kayayo” by carrying heavy loads for a meager charge or selling on the streets and roadsides.

These are the sad realities that have prompted the Student World Assembly and the Global Youth Action Network, in partnership with the United Nations Millennium Campaign and the Government of Ghana and other partner organizations and institutions working in the line of children welfare, youth development and women empowerment to come up with a pragmatic measure to curb these unfortunate instances in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa through youth volunteerism.

Purpose of the ‘’Save the Rural Dweller Project’’

· To stop the influx of women, youth and children to the urban areas to engage in dangerous activities

· To stop the use of children on the farms as cheap labour

· To create the needed learning environment and atmosphere for the children in the rural areas

· Sensitise the rural folks on the dangers of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other hazardous diseases

· To bring an end to child trafficking

· Empower women in the rural areas

· Enhance local community involvement in environmental protection

· Offer Micro-entrepreneurial skill training to the local Youth

· To offer micro-finance facility support for the beneficiaries of the entrepreneurial training.

· Search for a market for the products of the local youth entrepreneur through networking

· Promote Youth (in-school youth, out-of- school youth, working youth and youth with special needs) participation in community development

· To use volunteerism as a powerful tool in achieving the MDGs and the PRSPs

· To measure the progress of Ghana in achieving the MDGs.

· Data collection, Advocacy, Research and Campaign on the MDGs.

· To assist Governments create youth development indexes and trend monitoring schemes that are aligned to the MDGs and PRSPs/CAS.

PROGRAMME DETAILS: Work Place: Specific areas in all the ten regions of Ghana Working hour: 6-7 hours Type of work: working with children in rural schools, working with youth and women groups on the below areas of your interest: ·Rural Youth & HIV/AIDS Awareness ·Rural Children Welfare ·Save Our Environment ·Women & Youth Empowerment (Given Voice to the Voiceless) ·Rural Infrastructural facelift ·Helping in construction of wells for safe drinking water ·Entrepreneurial skills training

Some Benefits for Volunteers ·Receive the UN Secretary General Award for Community service ·Get the Government of Ghana Award for Community involvement ·Certificate and honor for participation

Work details in Other Partner Organization Apart from the above, we have many other partner organizations which work for children, women, the physically challenged and refugees. Volunteers can also work there under our supervision.

Some Ongoing Projects & Location

Rural Youth Peace Education & Conflict Prevention

• (Twifo-Praso in the Central Region)
• (Bawku in the Northern Region)

Rural Youth HIV/AIDS Education Project

• (Agona Swedru in the Central Region)

Rural Youth Gender Rights, Child Abuse & Child Trafficking

• (Agona Swedru in the Central Region)

Rural Youth in Agriculture Employment Initiative

• (Twifo-Praso & Agona Swedru, both in the Central Region)

Volunteer work at the Queen Mothers Association

• (HIV/AIDS Orphanage home at Manya-Krobo in the Eastern Region)