Over 1000 students benefited from the “Better version of me” project by Rayliza Initiatives
It was educative, informative, and entertaining when all the five (5) public schools in Woe gathered on Friday, July 1, 2022, at the Rhema Full Gospel Church to participate in the Better Version of Me project.
The initiative, which began in 2020, gathered over 800 teenage female students from five public schools in Woe: Aklorbordzi D.A Basic School, Salvation Army Basic School, Abutia Rhema D.A Basic School, E.P Basic School, and Dziedzorve D.A Basic School. However, the 2022 initiative, named the Better Version of Me, gathered both boys and girls from class five to JHS three.
The project is in response to reports suggesting a rise in adolescent pregnancies and school dropouts, both of which are negatively impacting the community’s educational standards. The maiden event in 2020, provided a forum for female students to express their experiences, highlighting how difficult it was for them to stay up in school without obtaining assistance from their boyfriends or indulging in other activities. This is what this initiative aims to minimize and finally eliminate.
Speaking at the event, the Anloga District Director of Education, Yvonne Amey-Bruce, bemoaned the district’s deteriorating rate of student achievement. According to her, the students are not paying attention in class and are instead participating in activities that are hindering their academic performance.
She further admonished parents to get more involved in activities that will pique their children’s interest in studying and to avoid exposing them to anything that will distract them.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Fafaa FM 100.3, Emmanuel Evortepe Ketaman, lectured the students on how to secure and improve their future. In his lecture, he emphasized the importance of having a plan as a student.
Coming from a poor background, he believes, should not be an excuse for failure.
“Even though I was born into poverty, I had plans and I was determined to achieve them. I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour. Though I schooled with hooligans, I didn’t join them because I knew my path and I had to make different decisions”
He emphasized two crucial quotes: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” and “Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
Rayliza Initiatives donated mathematical sets to all students, exercise books, and sanitary pads to the female students.
Meanwhile, Redeemer Joy Duboh, the Keta municipal health promotion officer, encouraged the pupils to practice good hygiene, noting that while the females are menstruating, it is necessary to bath at least twice a day.
The NGO, Rayliza Initiatives, is also inviting partners and supporters who could be part of a project that reaches out to the less privileged. To find out more about Rayliza Initiatives, click on raylizainitiatives.org
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Source: raylizaghana.com
