As part of the UNESCO-funded Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), Savana Signatures has intensified its community-level engagements across the Volta Region, bringing together key local actors to strengthen support systems for adolescents and young people.
The engagements, held in communities including Akyemfo in the Central Tongu District and Hatorgodo in the Keta Municipality, focused on supporting girls’ education, raising awareness on HIV/AIDS and voluntary testing, and addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
The initiative also aims to create safer and more inclusive community environments where young people, especially girls, can succeed.
Mobilizing Communities for Adolescent Empowerment
The community sensitization sessions brought together traditional leaders, parents, teachers, religious figures, health workers, and adolescents to discuss their shared responsibility in protecting young people and promoting education.
Facilitators emphasized that empowering adolescents requires the active participation of families and community structures.
“Empowerment begins at home,” Letsa Godwin a noted. “When parents and leaders encourage girls to stay in school, when they speak out against abuse and support access to reproductive health services, they help build a generation that is confident, informed, and capable of leading change.” He added.
Furthermore, the sessions highlighted the detrimental effects of early marriage, school dropout, and stigma around sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Participants explored steps for creating enabling environments where adolescents can access accurate information and supportive relationships.
Health Fairs and Youth-Friendly Services
To complement the sensitization sessions, Savana Signatures organized health fairs in the project communities. These fairs provided access to youth-friendly SRH services, including voluntary HIV testing and counselling, health education, and referrals for reproductive health support and were introduced to the SHE+ Tollfree Helpline.
Young people took part in interactive sessions with health workers, learning about safe sexual practices, menstrual hygiene, and STI prevention.
The Health Fairs provided vital services and also built trust between the youth and local health providers, breaking down barriers of fear, shame, and misinformation.
One adolescent participant shared, “Before today, I was shy to talk about reproductive health. Now I understand my body better and know where to go when I need help.”
SHE+ Helpline: Extending Support Beyond the Community
A major highlight of the engagements was the introduction of the SHE+ Helpline, an innovative digital platform that connects adolescents and young people to real-time information, counselling, and referral services.
The toll-free number (0800001122) and WhatsApp line (0593947812) allow users to speak with trained counsellors, health professionals, and social workers who provide guidance on sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, and psychosocial issues.
The SHE+ Helpline heavily relies on the existence of a well mapped out repertoire of very reputable and reliable sexual, reproductive, health and right service points across the length and breadth of Ghana. These points include both public and private facilities and institutions including health facilities, security services, legal services, psychosocial services, laboratory services etc.
Moreso, the SHE+ platform bridges the gap between community outreach and personal support, ensuring that help is only a call or message away, even after community events end.
Emefa Ethel Ehla, Head of Programs at Savana Signatures, described the helpline as a lifeline for adolescents who may feel isolated or uncomfortable seeking help in person:
“Not every young person feels confident to speak at community meetings or walk into a clinic. The SHE+ Helpline gives them privacy, safety, and professional support, 24 hours a day.”
During the engagements, community leaders were encouraged to share the helpline information widely and to use it as a referral tool for adolescents facing abuse, stigma, or health-related challenges. Since its inception, the platform has assisted over 3,000 adolescents and caregivers with verified information, counselling, and referrals to health facilities and social services.
This integration of technology with community engagement has made SHE+ a trusted and reliable source of adolescent-friendly support across the Volta Region.
Community Commitment to Change
Leaders from the participating communities expressed their readiness to support the ongoing campaign for adolescent wellbeing. Chiefs and opinion leaders reaffirmed their commitment to making their communities safe spaces for girls’ education and youth development.
A representative of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in Hatorgodo emphasized the importance of local ownership. “When communities take responsibility for adolescent health, they help reduce teenage pregnancy, STIs, and school dropouts,” she said.
Parents also pledged to work closely with schools and health officials to ensure that young people, especially girls, remain in school and receive proper guidance.
Building Partnerships for Sustainable Impact
Through these engagements, Savana Signatures is building a network of committed community advocates who will continue to promote reproductive health, gender equality, and youth empowerment even beyond the project’s timeline.
Elikem Agbenyo, Programs Manager at Savana Signatures, explained that the Youth Empowerment Project’s success lies in how it connects education, health, and community support. “We believe that when communities are informed and involved, they become champions of change. Together, we are creating environments where adolescents feel safe, supported, and valued,” he said.
The sessions concluded with commitments from participants to strengthen community-school collaboration, report cases of GBV, encourage voluntary HIV testing, and promote continuous education for all children.
Sustaining Momentum
The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) continues to be a driving force in Savana Signatures’ mission to empower adolescents with accurate, rights-based information and to promote community-led solutions to social challenges.
As the program expands across the Volta Region, its impact is already visible, from improved community awareness to increased demand for youth-friendly health services and a stronger voice for girls’ education.
The message from the communities was clear: when we support our young people today, we invest in the strength and sustainability of our future.
Story By: Prince Kwame Tamakloe
