Young at Heart GH.

Celebrating a Decade +1

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 20:40:00 GMT

As part of the National Volunteers Day celebrations and in honour of Young at Heart (YAH) Ghana’s 11th anniversary in September, the YAH Koforidua-based volunteers embarked on a digital literacy outreach program on September 21, 2024, at the Trinity Royal Presby School.

The outreach brought together 9 enthusiastic YAH volunteers and 2 dedicated teachers from the school. Together, they engaged approximately 60 students from JHS1 to JHS3 on a related Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) topic. As an organization aiming to bridge the gaps between teaching and learning by educating students in an interactive and fun way, we always seek to make learning more practical.

The outreach module was centred on the heart, which was linked to the story of the race between the hare and the tortoise from the Ananse the Teacher App. Volunteers led an interactive session exploring how physical activities like walking, running, dancing, playing, etc., affect the heart rate. Students got hands-on, testing the rate of their heartbeats before and after engaging in some fun exercises. The day’s highlight was a STEM experiment demonstrating how blood is pumped through the body, allowing students to connect the science behind their heartbeats to real-world biological processes using everyday materials (straw, bottles, scissors, tape, water, red colour, mould).

Again, we ended September with another digital outreach to Blessed Clementina Catholic School in Ashaima by the Accra-base volunteers on September 28, 2024. Over 50 pupils were introduced to and engaged with the Scratch software and its practical applications. The support of our 12 volunteers ensured a meaningful experience for the next generation of changemakers.

Finally, to test the effectiveness of the modules and students’ overall understanding, a baseline and post-test were taken before and after the teaching of the modules.

Young at Heart Ghana MasterClass Series: Building the next generation of innovative volunteers.

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 20:40:00 GMT

For the past 11 years, Young at Heart (YAH) Ghana has been on a mission to cultivate a passionate and enthusiastic community of volunteers while equipping them with essential 21st-century skills. As we continue to inspire and empower our members, YAH has launched a masterclass series as part of our 11-year journey. This series will serve as a platform to deepen knowledge, foster innovation, and continue our legacy of impactful service.

Young at Heart (YAH) Ghana successfully held two impactful masterclass events in August and September, with over 60 volunteers in attendance. The first session, titled Networking Dynamics: Introvert and Extrovert in Professional Settings, set the stage for understanding how volunteers with different personalities can effectively collaborate and thrive in a professional environment. The highly interactive session fostered a deeper appreciation for diverse working styles. The second masterclass, The New Age: A Writer’s Perspective, offered valuable insights into the creative process behind advertisements. Volunteers gained a behind-the-scenes look at the writer’s role, learning how ideas evolve from concept to execution. The session brought clarity and a deeper understanding of the creative industry from a professional writer’s standpoint, inspiring and informing participants.

The team is gearing up for its third masterclass, scheduled for October 26th, on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Optimization. This session will focus on developing website and online content that ranks higher in search engine results, providing essential skills for today’s digital landscape.

What makes these masterclasses truly special is that the resource persons are selected from within our own volunteer community. This approach not only fosters growth within the organization but also equips our members with the skills and confidence to make a broader impact in the world. By building each other up, we continue to strengthen YAH Ghana’s mission and legacy.

Cultural Ed-Tech Experience: Young at Heart Ghana and Luddy School of Informatics

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 01:47:00 GMT

In collaboration with the Luddy School of Informatics under Indiana University, the Young at Heart Ghana Team embarked on an exchange fellowship programme, the second since last year. The exchange fellowship took place from May 26 to May 30 this year. It was both an Ed-tech-centred trip and a cultural experience for all fellows. KOVOC School complex in Koforidua in the Eastern Region of Ghana hosted the fellows from May 27 to May 2024. The class targets for the programme were class four (4), class five (5), class six (6), JHS One (1) and Two (2). Students were trained in Scratch Programming and Arduino Programming, the modules linked to stories from the Ananse Teacher App. The Exchange Fellowship Programme helped imbibe and equip students with Scratch and Arduino Programming knowledge. The objectives of the outreach were to;

Prior to the start of the outreach, an info pack document was shared with the volunteers to familiarise them with the modules. A Zoom meeting was held to give volunteers a fair idea of the activity and assist them with what they needed to do in the classrooms and with the students. Volunteers who participated were purposely grouped into a four-member group to lead a class based on their capabilities and expertise in Scratch and Arduino Programming. Volunteers were expected to teach the students the basics of scratch and Arduino Programming, and the two modules were linked to stories from the Anase the Teacher App. Nevertheless, various fun activities were led by volunteers to create a friendly ambience for students to feel comfortable and also participate actively in the subsequent activities.

On the first day, the volunteers conducted a base test to assess the student’s knowledge of Scratch and Arduino programming before introducing the concept. The second day was enthusiastic as students got along with volunteers, the modules, and vice versa. The volunteers had a recap of the story and began the lessons for the scratch and Arduino programming; however, it was initially a bit daunting, but the students gradually grasped the content and concept. The lesson continued on the third day, and some students progressed. The post-test was done to assess what students had learned. The students were grouped and tasked to be creative and develop something based on what they were taught. The last day was set aside for presentation. The students in the various classrooms were allowed to demonstrate what they had created using Scratch and Arduino programming in the respective classrooms.

Fellows debriefed each day to evaluate how the day went, how the students coped, the challenges and achievements made, and the challenges were appropriately addressed. Fun activities were held in the evening to strengthen the bond between fellows from Ghana and the United States of America. The exchange fellowship was a success, and we look forward to organising the third outreach next year.

Successful Collaboration and a Budding Partnership with Jacob’s Foundation

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 01:44:00 GMT

Young at Heart Ghana collaborates with Jacobs Foundation to bring to life one of its impactful and far-reaching projects, Project Ananse. Project Ananse is a research-based project that sought to investigate the efficacy of e-learning resources and curated modules from YAH. The project began after COVID-19 to compensate for learning losses during the pandemic, engaging students, teachers, and parents in educational modules in Science and Mathematics, and it was made possible by the Ananse the Teacher App. Ananse the Teacher is a gamified learning app that uses folklore (based on the African folklore hero Ananse, the African Spiderman) and games to transfer knowledge and skills.

The project deployed our ST(R)E(A)M—STEM + Recreation + Arts modules, which were instrumental to its success. The project has thus far realized the successful deployment of our computer lab in a cart across five schools, spread across various contexts: rural, urban and periurban. The rural schools engaged 200 students, the urban schools 200 students and 100 students from a periurban school. The selection process was done to provide a better understanding of how teaching and learning are carried out across contexts and how it affects students’ academic performance.

In summary, the project was pivotal in demonstrating that gamified ed-tech learning platforms provide a possible avenue for facilitating STREAM (STEM + Arts + Recreation) as a learning approach across rural, periurban, and urban contexts in Africa. Teachers were successfully supported across the five target schools with training and modules to facilitate teaching with ed-tech tools. Parents were not left out; they were also successfully supported across the five target schools with training and modules to facilitate learning support in their wards.

In the experimental research design adopted, results showed a significant difference in post-test scores for students in the test groups across rural, peri-urban, and urban contexts. This finding is very insightful because the potential ST(R)E(A)M approaches to learning remain largely untested among learners in African contexts. Hence, the project and related research successfully tested the effectiveness of ed-tech solutions through ST(R)E(A)M for learners across rural, periurban, and urban contexts in Ghana. Interviews with students provided further details on exciting experiences with learning and willingness to engage. Additionally, since such contexts disproportionately face challenges such as a lack of infrastructure and relatable content, teachers face challenges implementing innovative teaching methods like the ones offered through ed-tech. Interviews and focus group discussions revealed that the modules and training offered to teachers and parents successfully provided the support needed to support learning in school and at home.

Overall, students, teachers, and parents were predominantly excited and enthusiastic about learning through the ST(R)E(A)M approach facilitated by the computer laboratory in a cart (Ananse Learners Network).

YAH is thrilled about the budding partnership with Jacobs Foundation and looks forward to the amazing support we will give learners.

Young at Heart Ghana: A Decade of Impact and Growth | Volunteer Engagement

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 01:38:00 GMT

Young at Heart Ghana is ten years old! Our journey is one of impact fueled by a passionate and youth-led team that is challenging the status quo in opportunities for digital education. As part of the growth and channelling a way forward, there was a need to enlighten both old and new volunteers on the organisation’s goal, vision and mission. Volunteers have been vital in the organisation’s growth, hence the need for them to reorient them. For the past ten years, volunteers have taken up roles such as planning and implementing school outreaches, social media engagements, and inspiring young people to be educated.

#YaHKow? was a digital forum for all energised by the charge to create EdTech solutions to the learning barriers in our world. The forum experienced speakers from the various departments who shed more light on their department’s activities and how volunteers can join any based on where they feel they can make maximum impact. The forum engaged about 55 passionate volunteers.

Young at Heart had its second volunteer engagement this June, dubbed Skillathon. Skillathon was organised to train volunteers on the skills needed to scale for the next decade. The sessions were to help volunteers become up to speed with skills required in the 21st century, which is necessary for the organisation’s growth. The training was centred on programming, volunteer engagement and multimedia.

Programming 101 focused on programming, how it is done, and why it is necessary to learn it. From problem-solving skills to understanding technology and achieving various career options, the training opened us up to varied options. Planning and Implementing volunteer engagements introduced volunteers to the benefits of giving back to society and doing so the YAH way. Over the years, YAH has devised a way of achieving its goal; hence, volunteers need to be abreast of it and continue in the same way. The last speaker spoke on multimedia and expressed the need for volunteers to capture moments when they are making an impact. The approach would help the organisation showcase its work to the world.

All sessions were practical or hands-on, allowing listeners to practice with the trainers.

Honoring Martin Bruce: Legacy and Impact on Young at Heart

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 01:32:00 GMT

Earlier this year, within the early hours of 3rd January, we lost our brother, friend, boss and Co-Founder, Martin Bruce, to the cruel hands of death, a loss we are still learning to navigate. The loss was a massive blow to the organization, leaving us in shock and trying to figure out how to move forward. As difficult as it is, his legacy consoles us, and the vision of seeing it to fruition. Martin Bruce and Josephine Marie Godwyll formed Young at Heart, which is ten years old. As an ed-tech organization that seeks to promote STEM and aims at making education more affordable, engaging, and accessible to people in the most remote parts of the world, Martin has played a vital role in making this goal a reality. He was pivotal in spearheading the creation of Ananse the Teacher App. This gamified learning app uses folklore (based on the African folklore hero Ananse and the African Spiderman) and games to transfer knowledge and skills. This was to enable African students, especially Ghanaians, to learn with relatable people and tools in mind.

Martin believed in the power of collaboration and cultural integration; hence, he was instrumental to connecting with schools and organizations within and outside Ghana that aligned with the organization’s vision. This collaboration connected us to organizations and institutions such as University College London, Indiana University, Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Jacobs Foundation, and Reach for Change. These collaborations went a long way regarding grants, knowledge acquisitions and transfers, and media publicity and engagements.

Again, Martin played a key role in the invention of the Lab and Library on Wheels (LLOW) system. The LLOW is a computer laboratory in a cart that converts a space into an ICT lab. In 2020, our mobile ICT Lab, also known as the Ananse Cart, was shortlisted for the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize For Engineering Innovation, which Martin presented on behalf of the organization. At the just-ended Africa Prize For Engineering Innovation event in Nairobi, Kenya, Martin was honoured for his support and sacrifices as an Alumni. This honour assured the organization that Martin’s excellent work during his time on earth did not go unnoticed. The event was attended by one of Martin’s mentees, Prince Delvin Ohene Asamoah, with whom Martin has played a vital role in his life. Through the mentorship Prince received from Martin during his primary school days, Prince has grown to be the Co-Lead for the Tech department of the organization and plays many roles in realising the organization’s goal.

Martin was always intentional about nurturing people and helping them become independent. We hope all his seeds will bear great fruits so everyone can reap the benefits.

Exchange Fellows from Hogeschool, Netherlands, implementing STREAM (STEM + Recreation +Arts) modules for vulnerable student populations.

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 01:10:00 GMT

Young at Heart Ghana hosted Orlando Koomen and Jimmy Ketelaar, two of its longest-serving exchange fellows in a groundbreaking project targeted at the implementation of ST(R)E(A)M - STEM + Recreation + Arts. In September 2023, Orlando and Jimmy, third-year social workers from Hogeschool van Amsterdam, commenced their exchange fellowship. They were in Ghana for a five- and ten-month internship program, which ended in January and June. Their background and experience as social workers, added insightful perspectives to our efforts in creating engaging and accessible ed-tech learning opportunities especially for marginalized student populations.

One of the key student groups the fellows engaged with were students in the Koforidua School for the Deaf and Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Adopting ST(R)E(A)M as a pedagogical approach, Jimmy and Orlando and the team at Young At Heart Ghana, developed learning modules for engagement. The modules were designed to adapt learning to the story-telling and game-based experiences curated on our e-learning app (Ananse The Teacher app). Modules comprised of using story-telling, digital, and physical games as channels for teaching STEM lessons.

Lessons focused on learning to count, recognizing numbers, and colour identification of counting rings. Students practiced addition, starting with simpler problems and gradually advancing to more intricate challenges. Results from Mathematics modules showed that repetition was essential for reinforcement, and linked to retention and internalizing concepts. The engineering lesson implemented focused on developing spatial awareness and creating stable structures. Students built towers with building blocks in pairs to withstand a rolling ball without toppling over. Initial observations highlighted sustained and heightened interest in participation from using story-telling, physical activity, and games.

We are excited about building on the progress made and scaling the modules developed!

Spotlighting our exchange fellows!

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 06:44:00 GMT

Young at Heart (YAH) Ghana, since September has engaged two students from Hogeschool van Amsterdam namely Orlando Koomen and Jimmy Ketelaar. Jimmy and Orlando will be in Ghana for 5- and 10-months internship program, respectively. They are third year Social Work students who aim to learn, build experience and impact society. With their background and experience as social workers, they hope to contribute to our goal of creating engaging and accessible learning opportunities through ed-tech resources.

During the first week, interns were introduced to YAH, its vision, goals, and objectives. Because of their desire to work with children, Jimmy and Orlando could more easily relate to the organization’s vision. They were also given an overview of the organization’s projects and activities. They found the projects to be interactive, engaging, and goal oriented.

Our initiatives, which are listed under “Ananse Suite,” were introduced at the beginning of the orientation.

1. Ananse Cart – a Lab & Library on Wheels,

2. Ananse Hub – a learning management and content-delivery platform,

3. Ananse at Home – specially curated teaching and learning modules, based on our Ananse The Teacher App, that makes the teaching and studying of Science, Technology, Arts and Maths, (STEAM) practical, engaging and fun.

4. Ananse the Teacher App – a gamified learning app that uses folklore (set on the hero of African folklore – Ananse, the African Spiderman) and games for knowledge and skills Transfer

Young at Heart Ghana has since added Recreation to its quest in promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) to Science, Recreation, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STREAM), as part of its mission to bridge gaps in teaching and learning through dynamic recreational spaces. This is to improve students’ physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. Furthermore, recreation aids in the relaxation and stimulation of the brain, resulting in increased productivity at work.

Jimmy and Orlando will work with John Bosco Basic School and Koforidua School for the Deaf and Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the Eastern Region throughout their internship. This is to ensure that no one, particularly students with disabilities or special needs, is left behind in the promotion of STREAM.

In order to implement the STREAM project, the interns were shown how modules are created in the organization and how they are linked to folklore stories from Ananse the Teacher App. These modules infused recreation into all of the reading and practical experiments. Also, with a background in social work, Jimmy and Orlando designed modules that would allow students to actively participate in class activities as well as share with them other issues that are important to them. So far, the experience has been amazing.

Working abroad, according to Jimmy and Orlando, will allow them to broaden their perspective beyond what they are used to in the Netherlands. This is to assist them in solving problems in the Ghanaian context from a broader perspective. They hope to make a difference in the lives of the students they work with through this internship.

Jimmy and Orlando are both excited to work with Young at Heart Ghana and believe the experience will be worthwhile.

Celebrating 2022 – Volunteer Engagements

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 23:24:00 GMT

As part of the responsibilities of volunteers to reach out to schools and make an impact, YAH visited Amrahia Community School on 6 ^th August 2022. With a total of 12 volunteers, we reached out to about 80 students. It was educative and fun as we used one of the stories on the Ananse the Teacher App – Why children cry for nothing. Ananse The Teacher App is a gamified learning app that uses folklore (set on the hero of African folklore – Ananse, the African Spiderman) and games for knowledge and skills transfer. Also, it has Science, Technology, Arts and Maths, (STEAM) practical lessons linked to the stories that makes learning engaging and fun. The story of Why children cry for nothing was linked to surface tension experiment using everyday materials around us (a takeaway pack, scissors, toothpick, liquid soap, bowl of water). Students had fun and were determined to give it a try at home.

Volunteers of YAH meet for a yearly camp to reach out extensively, interact, evaluate and strategize for the year ahead. This year’s camp, ‘ Fall Camp’ was held in Koforidua from the 25 ^th of September to 2 ^nd October. A total of 15 volunteers reached out to 80 students in two schools, Okorase Methodist A and Little Flower School. A module from our Ananse at Home Modules – specially curated teaching and learning modules, based on our Ananse The Teacher App was used during the one week period. The student undertook a baseline to ascertain their knowledge on the topic before they were taught. The topics were later introduced (Materials and Energy) with practical experiments to make learning fun and easy to recall. Students wrote a post test at the end of the week to establish the effect of the module on their performance and how well they understood what was taught. There was a 100% increase in posttest signifying how well the students understood and enjoyed the sessions.

Volunteers have always been our most cherished resources. YAH has a team of enthusiastic volunteers, who aid in carrying out our activities. These volunteers are drawn from volunteer bases in the University of Ghana (UG), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Cape Coast (UCC), All Nations University Colleges (ANUC), Koforidua Technical University (KTU), BlueCrest University, MEST, GIMPA and various institutions across the country.

Celebrating 2022 – Skills For Her

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 22:20:00 GMT

Young At Heart GH concludes the third phase of Skill For Her, an entrepreneurial and vocational skill training project funded by World Connect for young women between ages 18 and 24 in Ghana, who are looking for training opportunities to start their own vocational skill-based businesses.

The project spans a period of three months. In the first month, participants are engaged in virtual classes. The second month is focused on in person internships with the facilitators and the third month is dedicated to digital and business skills to equip participants to start their own business. After the training, participants who apply and are successful are supported with an interest-free seed funding of up to GH₵1,000.00 to grow their business.

The last phase witnessed 70 participants being trained in either bead or fascinator making skills. About 80% of participants had no prior knowledge before training but had about a 100% satisfactory rate after the training. After the 3-month training period, 5 participants were awarded a seed capital following a thorough application process. Participants are sure to grow their business and further train and encourage other young ladies to start their own businesses.

YAH has agreed to arrange periodic business training and coaching for the participants as well as providing business support when needed.

Celebrating 2022 - UCL Exchange Fellowship

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 03:17:00 GMT

A healthy collaboration propels innovation and reaches out to a higher scope of beneficiaries. Y@H has over the past two years collaborated with University College London’s International Development Hub on activities including Hackathon, Lunch and Learn and a summer Exchange Fellowship in 2021 and 2022.The 2022 Remote Summer Placement witnessed the participation of 7 fellows.... Read More

Celebrating 2022 - Project Ananse

jmgodwyl@gmail.com (Josephine Godwyll) — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 01:39:50 GMT

Young At Heart GH in collaboration with Jacobs Foundation designed Project Ananse to make up for the learning time lost during the pandemic through an engaging and cost-efficient education technology project called Project Ananse .

How I Became a Makeup Artist

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 22:27:00 GMT

My name is Darko Gloria Ladjer. I am a young lady who is 25 years of age and has completed Yilo Krobo Senior High School in Somanya, Eastern region of Ghana.

My name is Darko Gloria Ladjer. I am a young lady who is 25 years of age and has completed Yilo Krobo Senior High School in Somanya, Eastern region of Ghana.

It was my dream to become a famous makeup artist but there was no one to support and help my dreams to come through until a I saw an advert on one of the WhatsApp groups called Kofcity Connect, that an organization called Young At Heart is organizing a free training for every young lady who wants to develop a skill, being it bead designing or makeup, under a program dubbed Skills For Her.

So, I quickly applied for the makeup cohort and for some few days, I was approved to partake in the training at Koforidua.

The training took us three months of which the first month was for online theory, where we learnt the basics of being a makeup artist. The second month was onsite practical sessions, where we had the opportunity to practice makeup on ourselves and professionally on others. And the third month was for business skills, which was all handled by our lovely, professional makeup artist, Madam Josey.

During the practical session, she was able to tolerate our individual differences without complaining about our unnecessary questions. She was able to impart her skills into us and made sure that each and everyone understands what she teaches and that encouraged me a lot to learn harder to become like her.

The training organized by Young At Heart, has really helped me achieve my dream and develop my talent as a Makeup Artist. What I have learnt has now become a source of income to me with the little asset (makeup products) I have.

My wish is to get enough capital to expand and extend my business to the world as the best Makeup Artist. I say a big thank you to Young At Heart Skill For Her for making me who I am today and bringing out the best in me.

Undoubtedly, Skills For Her is a timely intervention as most of the beneficiaries lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic. Today, they are their own bosses and also employing others who wish to be trained.

My name is Darko Gloria Ladjer. I am a young lady who is 25 years of age and has completed Yilo Krobo Senior High School in Somanya, Eastern region of Ghana.

It was my dream to become a famous makeup artist but there was no one to support and help my dreams to come through until a I saw an advert on one of the WhatsApp groups called Kofcity Connect, that an organization called Young At Heart is organizing a free training for every young lady who wants to develop a skill, being it bead designing or makeup, under a program dubbed Skills For Her.

So, I quickly applied for the makeup cohort and for some few days, I was approved to partake in the training at Koforidua.

The training took us three months of which the first month was for online theory, where we learnt the basics of being a makeup artist. The second month was onsite practical sessions, where we had the opportunity to practice makeup on ourselves and professionally on others. And the third month was for business skills, which was all handled by our lovely, professional makeup artist, Madam Josey.

During the practical session, she was able to tolerate our individual differences without complaining about our unnecessary questions. She was able to impart her skills into us and made sure that each and everyone understands what she teaches and that encouraged me a lot to learn harder to become like her.

The training organized by Young At Heart, has really helped me achieve my dream and develop my talent as a Makeup Artist. What I have learnt has now become a source of income to me with the little asset (makeup products) I have.

My wish is to get enough capital to expand and extend my business to the world as the best Makeup Artist. I say a big thank you to Young At Heart Skill For Her for making me who I am today and bringing out the best in me.

Undoubtedly, Skills For Her is a timely intervention as most of the beneficiaries lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic. Today, they are their own bosses and also employing others who wish to be trained.

THE SUCCESS STORIES

Tue, 24 May 2022 18:59:00 GMT

The past months have been impactful and interesting as Young At Heart Ghana, under the auspices of Skills For Her, continues to foster TVET education for young women in Ghana. Following the impressive outcomes of Phase I of the project, Skills For Her Phase II sought to expand the scope of skills and impact by equipping more young women with sellable skills which they can utilise to gain their financial freedom. Defying all odds such as geographical limitations and financial constraints, over 100 young women enrolled on the project, exploring e-learning platforms as the medium of training.

With professional coaches and mentors provided by Skills For Her, these young women have proven the worth of the project with sterling results. Having been trained in various skills including beadmaking, makeup, packaging, branding and marketing, these young women are proud to call themselves CEOs of their own businesses and establishments. They in turn look forward to training other young ladies in their communities to acquire these entrepreneurial skills towards their financial independence. It was all joy for some of the beneficiaries to share their success stories with us.

Classy Accessories

Classy Accessories started with the production of ankara brooches, bowties, and flying ties. Just when I was thinking of how to expand my business, I saw Young at Heart skills for her online training flyer on social media. I decided to join the beadmaking cohort since it was in line with my start-up business. The facilitators took us through how to make various accessories such as bridal fans, fascinators, beads key chains, bags, among others.

The training has been part of a success story to Classy Accessories because it is now a hub of accessories which include bridal accessories, bead accessories, fascinators for various occasions and many more. I want to personally thank the organisers for such a great job. Below are my contact details for potential customers.

Classy Accessories is an online business located in Kumasi.

Facebook: ClassyAccessories

Instagram: ClassyAccessories001

PARTNERS:

WORLD CONNECT

MANDELA WASHINGTON FELLOWS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA

MBJ BEAUTY

ADVANCING ED-TECH SOLUTIONS FOR THE GLOBAL SOUTH: YOUNG AT HEART GHANA PARTNERS UCL ID HUB FOR REMOTE SUMMER INTERNSHIP

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 23:57:00 GMT

ICT Summer Camps have always been one of the most looked-forward-to events on the Y@H Annual Calendar. It has been curated over the years to bring together student volunteers from varying fields to target communities, for an all-hands-on, intensive digital literacy and utilization campaign. For the first time in 7 years, Summer Camp was called off in 2020 due to the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. Although the world is not out of the woods yet, a spin has been put to the Annual Summer Camps. 2021 has birthed the Y@H Remote Summer Placement.

The 2021 Remote Summer Placement is a feature in the burgeoning partnership with the University College of London’s International Development Hub. Y@H and UCL ID Hub’s maiden event was a Hackathon in November 2020. This Summer Placement will give student-participants the opportunity to further develop the solutions that were developed during the Hackathon.

The 2021 Remote Summer Placement kicked off on June 15, 2021 with 3 students from the University College of London and 3 students from Ghana – a student each from George Grant University of Mines and Technology, University of Energy and Natural Resources, and Regent University College. The 2-month Placement will have students undertaking Engineering, Non-Engineering and Business/Leadership related sessions, intrinsically linked to provide a cross-cultural, cross-knowledge and community-rich perspective for participants.

At the end of the summer internship, participants are expected to have gained practical knowledge and skills in mixed network topology, mesh technology experience and their ability to implement a network from ideation & planning, to deployment, management and handing over. Participants are also expected to have improved their communication and leadership skills, community-engagement influenced development and sourcing of funding for projects. The Business/Leadership Sessions will give Participants an insight into the World of Business through interactions with Business Leaders, Entrepreneurs and Field Experts.

We look forward to the positive outcomes from this 2-month placement. Check our @youngatheartgh on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for regular updates

“Skills For Her” to engage 100 young women in virtual vocational and business skills training

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 22:15:00 GMT

‘Skills For Her’ is championing a support network for women entrepreneurs by connecting successful and aspiring women entrepreneurs, through remote learning platforms. Through these platforms, participants and facilitators interact and explore skills in selected fields towards launching business ventures at the end of a twelve (12) week engagement. One such selected field is the beauty industry and Phase 2 of the program specifically highlights make-up centered businesses. Facilitating this learning encounter is the CEO of MBJ Beauty , Josephine Lamptey, a seasoned social work major, with extensive training in beauty and cosmetics.

Josephine is a make-up expert and coach with over seven years of experience in the craft. With over 2k followers on Instagram with the handle @mbjbeauty_josey, MBJ – ‘Makeup by Josy’, has dressed countless brides, models, birthday celebrants, corporate women, among others. (Find and subscribe to MBJ Beauty on youtube here- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj7EqA12YZp_5FCx6rWP0tw )

Josephine derives much satisfaction from the fact that she gets to meet different people and interacts with them on a personal level and makes them happy through her craft. She also loves to share her experience and to know that she has made a positive impact.

She sees ‘Skills for Her’ as an opportunity to connect to her social work training, through an exploration of the love of the art and the passion to pass on the skill and knowledge. MBJ Beauty is partnering with Young At Heart on the Skills For Her program as the facilitator and coach for the Make-up cohort. Josephine is happy to bring on board her expertise to groom the next batch of make-up artists the beauty industry looks forward to having, through remote learning platforms.

Josephine shares her expectations with us.

“ I expect the participants to be cooperative and learn everything they can during this three months training session because I’m ready to help them harness their talent in the make-up skills and send them on their way to master their craft and by their bosses in the industry.”

About 100 young women in Ghana and other parts of the world have signed up for phase 2 of the Skills for Her program, These ladies are set to receive training in Beadwork, Make-up and Soft Business Skills. About 30 out of the total will connect to training through an IT Hub and training space, while the remaining will be engaged through self-paced learning on our virtual platforms. For the next twelve weeks, various facilitators will engage the participants remotely and coach them to harness their skills.

We are cheering all participants on and wishing them the very best!

Partners:

World Connect

Mandela Washington Fellows Association of Ghana

MBJ Beauty

#SkillsForHer – Become Business Ready with remote training in Bead Work and Make-Up!

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 17:59:00 GMT

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is a viable avenue for skills acquisition and self-development. Young At Heart Ghana, under Skills For Her, continues to foster TVET education for young women in Ghana. Exploring e-learning platforms as mediums, training is made accessible and convenient for women regardless of their location, or financial status.

Through Skills For Her, Young at Heart Ghana seeks to provide opportunities for young women to connect remotely to skills acquisition and business training platforms that will link them up with mentors and industry players.

Phase 2 of this program targets young women between the ages of 15 and 30. These young women will be trained in the following areas over a period of three months; Bead making and Makeup. Further details are as follows.

The program kicks start in April and ends in June, 2021. There are 2 training locations :

Trainees will be supported to launch their own vocational skill-based businesses at the end of a successful training.

To participate in this edition, all eligible participants need to sign up via the link below.

https://forms.gle/iYmBQUJNA3gUhnDN7

For more information contact: 0243612039/0240244182/0541850355

The first phase of the program received massive patronage as many young women took advantage of the opportunity to acquire skills and establish their own businesses. The program which ran over three months empowered women with skills such as beading, catering, among others.

After months of participating in the Skills For Her program, Sherifa Mohammed, now CEO of SHESAF’S ENTERPRISE, shares her experiences from the program with us. Madam Sherifa is a young, hardworking, and industrious lady from the Northern Region of Ghana. Being an entrepreneur, she enrolled on the Skills For Her program to acquire new catering skills and also sharpen her already acquired skills.

“I acquired skills from the catering class which have helped me in business. I was having challenges which with the help of the program were minimized.” She said. She further adds that she got knowledge on how to manage her business and also had the opportunity to interact with successful entrepreneurs who mentored her at no cost.

Some of the skills she acquired include how to make healthy beverages such as sobolo, and baobab smoothie. She also learnt how to make watermelon basket, fruit salad, fruit kebabs, spring rolls among others. Aside these, she buys and packages pure honey and sells as part of her businesses. She was also given a startup capital with which she has started her own business.

Apply for Phase 2 – https://forms.gle/iYmBQUJNA3gUhnDN7

PARTNERS:

WORLD CONNECT

MANDELA WASHINGTON FELLOWS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA

MBJ BEAUTY.

REMOTE LEARNING – A VIABLE CHANNEL FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 22:45:38 GMT

As the world celebrates women in the month of March, an opportunity is presented to take a critical look at equality and opportunities for women worldwide. International Women’s Day this year carries the theme “ Choose to challenge ” , which is appropriate given the challenging circumstances covid-19 has presented. The theme further expounds that a challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change.

The question then is, in what ways do the challenges emanating from a pandemic stricken world lead to opportunities of change? In seeking an answer to this question, Young At Heart Ghana, a social enterprise championing accessible education through ed-tech solutions , launched its flagship project – SKILLS FOR HER – A remote learning vocational and business training program.

In the midst of challenges associated with in-person interactions in a pandemic stricken world, a new era of remote collaboration, facilitated by technology has been birthed. But what relief does that bring to women?

In many contexts the female youth unemployment rate has risen over the past 13 years and is 3 points above their male counterparts (ILOSTAT, 2018). Technical and Vocational skills have been lauded as the go to, giving its potential for providing opportunities for self-employment and access to a ready market.

However, in many developing contexts, the costs associated with technical and vocational skill acquisition is often a big challenge. This challenge coupled with the lack of access to such training in remote communities, leads to further marginalizing women in vulnerable communities.

SKILLS FOR HER is therefore a paradigm shifting program which champions connecting young women to a virtual Technical and Vocational Skills Training opportunity. Young women in low-income communities signed up for the program are given access to digital tools and resource library. Through these resources they connect to the training platform and mentors guided by one on site facilitator. Participants in urban contexts with access to smartphones connect directly to the platform and training asynchronously.

Phase 1 has already seen impressive results as close to 60 participants received training in ‘Beadmaking’ ,‘Snacks 101’, ’Business and SoftSkills’ and ‘Social Media Marketing’. The call for applications attracted all categories of young women, ranging from recent high school graduates to women who wanted to add on to their skill sets to expand their vocational business.

Over the course of 9 months some participants have successfully launched and continue to develop their businesses, using skills acquired through Skills For Her. The latest addition to this trend of successes is Victoria Sem who has explored the beadmaking skills she acquired to launch a new brandline for bead jewelry and bead infused accessories at Krysvyc Fashions.

Victoria’s Comments:

“I took the opportunity to add up my skills when Young at Heart advertised the Skills For Her program . A lot was experienced during this program. I learnt a new skill…never knew paper can be used for beads. I learned how to prepare for an elevator pitch for my business. Got to know what really goes into branding. Cost analysis for specific products, importance of consistent social media engagement as a tool of marketing just to mention a few.”

Below are some of Victoria’s creations at Krysvyc Fashions!

Contact her for your orders now!

Phase 2 of Skills For Her is set to launch at the end of March. We are looking to increase training areas and the numbers of participants reached. This project is supported by World Connect, an organization which has supported women empowerment projects across many developing contexts. It is also supported by the Mandela Washington Fellowship Association of Ghana, members of which have served as mentors and facilitators for this program.

REMOTE LEARNING – A VIABLE CHANNEL FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 20:11:00 GMT

Victoria’s Comments:

Below are some of Victoria’s creations at Krysvyc Fashions!

Contact her for your orders now!

TAKORADI HOLDS MAIDEN EDITION OF YAH’s #VOLUCONNECT.

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 18:55:00 GMT

By BV Semah

Volunteers of Young at Heart GH. currently based in the city of Takoradi and it’s environs organised the maiden edition of #VoluConnect over the weekend. #VoluConnect as the name suggest is meant to serve as a mini networking event for volunteers of the organization living in a particular city.

The #VoluConnect was scheduled for 10am on Saturday and with Squeeze (a smoothies bar in Takoradi) as the venue. However, the rains had different plans for the volunteers. We met at Squeeze alright, but because of the rains we had to relocate since Squeeze is an outdoor location.

We moved to another location (Queens cakes and more) where we spent about an hour before moving to the I.T. 4 TEENS conference room inside the HFC Bank yard. We settled on that location because it was the venue for the Start Up Takoradi program which we intended to attend later in the day.

Over there, there was the usual Jollof/Waakye debate. Well, the waakye lovers present outnumbered the Jollof lovers. And so for lunch, the team decided on waakye from the Columbia waakye joint. After lunch, whiles waiting for the Start Up Takoradi event to begin, we had a long conversation on topics ranging from Ananse the Teacher app, education, technology, entrepreneurship, etc.

Later, we were joined by other attendees of the Start Up Takoradi event. The theme for discussion was “Building the Sekondi-Takoradi Startup Ecosystem.” Young at Heart GH volunteers also took advantage of the occasion to talk about Ananse the Teacher app. The city of Takoradi needs more of such programs. The only thing I didn’t like about the event was that it started very late, an hour later than the scheduled time.

After the Startup Takoradi event, we had to disperse to our various places of residence. However, it seems we hadn’t had enough of the #VoluConnect experience. And so, we had to re-strategize to take advantage of the holiday (on Monday) to meet again. Our dear Mansa Bubune made it easier for us. She decided to host the team for a Jollof party at her house.

On Monday afternoon, we met at her place. And after a time of intercessory prayers for the Young at Heart GH team, we wasted no time at all in devouring the jollof rice, taking chaw photos, “talking plenty” and finally calling it a weekend well spent.

Below are the names of the Big Six (plus 1) who made the Takoradi #VoluConnect a reality.

Mansa Bubune

Marian Clara

Dennis Kemevor

Victor Ayertey

Jay Paul

BV Semah

And Miss plus 1 is Mildred (Marian’s sister) who is yet to become a member of the Young at Heart GH fraternity.

I would describe the Takoradi version of the #VoluConnect experience in three words; exciting, enlightening and elating. Hopefully, #VoluConnect will be replicated in other cities accross the country as well. As they say the best(and the first) comes from the west.

YOUNG AT HEART GH SET TO LAUNCH ANANSE THE TEACHER APP

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 11:22:00 GMT

As part of efforts to champion digital literacy among children in Africa via computers and other E-learning platforms, Young at Heart GH is set to launch it’s maiden app, #AnanseTheTeacherApp on Friday, June 16th, 2017 at the Bishop Bowers Basic School in Accra.

After winning the Tigo Digital Changemaker Competition in 2015, Josephine Marie Godwyll, Founder and National Coordinator of Young at Heart Gh and her team has rolled out another noteworthy contribution towards digital literacy in Ghana.

#AnanseTheTeacherApp is a gamefied learning app that provide easy to grasp learning materials on the STEAM subjects namely; Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
Gamefication in E-learning is fast becoming an effective tool in engaging learners. It affords pupils the opportunity to have fun whiles learning at the same time. That way, some difficult concepts can be made relatable to these young learners.

Ananse is a popular character in African folklore. There’s always some moral lessons embedded in Ananse stories. And it comes along with some good measure of humour as well. His emergence on the digital sphere as Ananse the Teacher is nothing short of that.
The general public is invited to the launch. You can also follow the hashtag #AnanseTheTeacherApp on twitter to join the conversation. The app will be available on google play store on Friday, 16th June, 2017.

AFTER SCHOOL VIBES AND THE IMAGINARY BARBEQUE.

Thu, 08 Jun 2017 17:00:00 GMT

Last week, some volunteers of Young at Heart Ghana were based in Asiafo Amanfro in the Eastern region for the weeklong ICT Summer Camp a.k.a. #CampLIT (Learn, Innovate, Test).

On the Thursday evening of the Camp, there was a mini-seminar dubbed “After School Vibes.” As the name suggests, it was a time for alumni volunteers present to share their experience and the lessons they’ve picked up along the way.

There was something unique about this mini-seminar. Volunteers sat in a big circle and it was held over an imaginary barbecue. Each volunteer was expected to make a contribution towards this barbecue.

The interesting part of it was that the first letter of what you intend to contribute should be the same as the first letter of your name. The things some volunteers decided to contribute was just breathtaking.

Here is a list of all volunteers who were present at the mini-seminar and the item each contributed to the imaginary barbecue. Below the list is a recap of the lessons that were shared during the mini-seminar.

Judith – Jolly Juice

Etornam – Eba and Egushi stew

Anita – Alewa

Doris – Don Simon

Victor (Ayertey) – Vinegar

Samuel – Sobolo

Afram – Alansa

Dorcas – Duck

Francis(Images) – Fish

Paul – Pork

Senanu – Salt

Mansa Bubune – Meat

Rita – Radio

Bernard – Burner

Dwinnie – Dancing shoes

Nana Nyame – Nantwi nam (Cowleg)

Sarah – Sticks for kebab

Bernice – Beef

Victor – Vodka

Philip – Palm wine

Prince – Pizza

Benjamin – Bottled water

Linda – Lobsters

Tina – Tequila

Jay – Jerky meat

Bertha – Brandy

Martin – Martini and Monk)

Now, to the lessons. Jay Marie and Martin led the discussions and there was time for questions and answers as well. A number of lessons were shared. For the purpose of this recap, I’ve highlighted ten of them.

Thoughts Shared By Jay Marie.
1. Life after school can be summarised in 3 words; “Identifying your opportunities.” Wherever you find yourself after your undergraduate studies, there will always be countless opportunities to create a better life for yourself. It is your responsibility to be open minded, identify these opportunities and take advantage of them.

2. Allow God to be involved in your life. Work that relationship with God and keep it fresh always.

3. There’s usually a sense of entitlement after school. But do keep in mind that no one owes you anything simply because you have a degree or diploma.

4. Take advice but wiegh them against your personal interest. (As long as it’s not illegal, there’s nothing wrong with going against what seems to be normal)

5. Relationships: This seems to be a very unpredictable aspect of our lives. Mindsets change, priorities change and people change too. Since marriage is a lifetime commitment, if you find yourself in a relationship that causes you to consistently compromise your values, you should be courageous to call it quit. “A failed relationship is always better than a failed marriage”.

6. Always have goals, and be taking steps towards accomplishing them.

Thoughts Shared By Martin Bruce Jnr.

07. Wherever you find yourself posted for National Service, do well to excel regardless of the tasks you’re required to perform.

08. On Financial Discipline; Always save before spending. Set a percentage against your income for that purpose. And consider your savings as statutory payment. Learn this practice and make it a habit ASAP.

09. Work hard, but learn to pause once in a while to chill and enjoy life.

Thoughts Shared By Bubune, Images, Nana Nyame et al.

10. Be deliberate about building your social capital(network). No man is an island. Be nice to the people you meet. It doesn’t cost much to be nice, but one of these days, you will be glad you did.

PS: I’m looking forward to the day the team will have the real barbecue.

THE THEME SONGS; A Trip Down Memory Lane.

Tue, 23 May 2017 19:55:00 GMT

BV SEMAH

It is often said that music is food for the soul. Whatever that means, I’m yet to figure it out. However, there is something I can confidently say about music; it educates, entertains, informs and inspires.

In less than a week’s time, the fourth edition of Young at Heart’s ICT Summer Camp will kick off. And just like previous editions, music will play a vital role. For each of the previous editions (with the exception of the first) a theme song was selected.

The theme song is meant to serve as a source of inspiration to volunteers during the camp. Thus, the lyrics should extol the virtues of service, sacrifice and selflessness. So today, I will take you on a trip down memory lane, to take a look at what the theme songs have been for previous camps.

ICTSummerCamp ’14: As I’ve already stated, for ICT Summer Camp ’14, there was no particular song selected as the theme song.

ICTSummerCamp ’15 : The theme song for SC15 was “w e are here” by Alicia Keys. In this song, the beautiful songstress preaches selflessness. She sings ” we are here, we are here for all of us… Our souls are brought together so that we could love each other.” The song leaves you with a hopeful determination to make a positive difference. And that’s exactly what it did for volunteers during SC15 and even after. It inspired Martin, our deputy National Coordinator to write a beautiful article he titled “ the 7 billionth earth. ”

ICT Summer Camp ’16: Alicia Keys was with us again for SC16. This time around, the theme song was a duet she performed with Jussie Smollett on the Empire TV series titled “Powerful.” The song which pays homage to the likes of Malcom X and Martin Luther also heralds the power of the everyday man. For SC17, this song had an empowering effect on volunteers, making us agree with these two musicians that indeed “there’s so much strength in you and me.”

ICTSummerCamp ’17: The countdown is on for SC17 which has been dubbed CampLIT. Now, to the big questions. Which song will be the theme song for #CampLIT? Will our Alicia Keys join the team for ICT Summer Camp for the third consecutive time? Or will we be seeing(hearing) a new face(voice)? For now, these remain questions for the gods.

5 QUALITIES OF GOOD VOLUNTEERS

Mon, 22 May 2017 19:58:00 GMT

BV SEMAH

In February 2015, I tied my cloth to that of the Young at Heart fraternity as a volunteer. Since then, I’ve been part of a number of outreaches and several campaigns that have been championed by the organization.

My involvement with the organization and interaction with the other volunteers has taught me some valuable lessons on social entrepreneurship and volunteerism.

This post will be a discussion on some qualities that have been exhibited by these volunteers whiles partaking in Young at Heart GH. outreaches and campaigns. These are qualities that every social enterprise or NGO should promote amongst it’s volunteers to accelerate the achievement of it’s set objectives.

VISIONARY : The first quality of good volunteers is that they are visionaries. They’re men and women who can imagine a world that is more beautiful than the present reality. Every worthwhile volunteering initiative is aimed at fulfilling a vision of making the world better in one way or the other. At Young at Heart , the organization has a vision “ to champion Computer Literacy among children in Africa with special focus on Rural Africa via Computers and other E-learning platforms ” And volunteers share in that vision, hence their involvement with the organization.

VENTUROUS : A person who is venturous is one who is willing to take risk and try out new things. To respond to the call to volunteerism demands a willingness to sacrifice one’s time, energy, money and other resources as well as stepping outside your comfort zone all in the name of making a difference in the life of of others. If you’re risk averse, then maybe, the idea of becoming a volunteer for some good cause may not be appealing to you.

VERSATILE : Volunteerism requires a great deal of versatility. The best of volunteers are those who are excellent at adapting to different roles and environment. If you choose to volunteer for a cause, you’re usually going to be expected to engage in activities such as fund raising, publicity, organising outreaches just to mention a few. Not only that, depending on the nature of the task you’re volunteering for, you may have to adapt to different environments as well.

VIBRANT : Being vibrant means “being full of life and energy.” Any team of volunteers that lacks vibrancy will soon quit their pursuits. This is because without vibrant volunteers, the team will lack the positivity, passion and persistence necessary to sustain it’s efforts. This quality becomes even more important because people usually do not gain any direct economic or monetary benefits from volunteering their time and talents. Thus, without it, they are likely to quit at the least sign of discomfort.

VICARIOUS : Every well meaning volunteer (irrespective of religious affiliation) is a vicar or agent of God’s love to the world. This is true because the work of every good volunteer is always aimed at diminishing some disadvantages in society and inspiring hope.

These are some of the qualities of good volunteers that I’ve learnt from my experience as a member of the Young at Heart GH team. Do you have some volunteering experience? What other qualities do you think are indicative of a good volunteer? Feel free to share your thoughts.

YOUNG AT HEART VOLUNTEERS “FIRED UP” FOR SUMMER CAMP 2017.

Sun, 21 May 2017 16:04:00 GMT

Time aso oo, Time aso!!.

Once again, time is almost up for ICT Summer Camp. ICT Summer Camp is an initiative of Young at Heart GH. It is a weeklong outreach where volunteers (students and alumni) from various tertiary institutions across the country converge to teach and inspire basic school pupils in a selected community.

This camp is organized with the aim of working towards Young at Heart’s vision, which is “to champion Computer Literacy among children in Africa with special focus on Rural Africa via Computers and other E-learning platforms.”

This year’s edition will be the fourth. And it promises to be the most exciting and impactful ever! The destination for this year is the Akaa community in the Eastern region of Ghana.

Volunteers will guide children in Akaa and surrounding communities to discover the process of Design THINKING in solving problems; using Digital Tools as an enabling platform.

Wondering why you should sign up for Summer Camp? Read what Seiwah, a volunteer of YaH UG and participant of last year’s Summer Camp had to say “Summer camp is the best thing you can do from 28th May to 4th June…. it’s time to pause our own worlds and make the lives of others better.”
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make impact!

Click on the link below to sign up to free. To support or sponsor ICT SUMMER CAMP 2017, contact any of the following numbers 0209102383, 0546239935
https://goo.gl/forms/3l6hcpy0CC0HoTFo1

THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

Fri, 02 Sep 2016 09:42:00 GMT

BV SEMAH

“Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, ‘Make me feel important.’ Never forget this message when working with people.”
-Mary Kay Ash

Who are the most important people in the world? Have you ever wondered who the world’s most important people are? And if you ever had an invitation to have lunch with them, would you honor such an invitation? I bet your answer will most likely be a big yes. Afterall, who wouldn’t want to associate with a person of great worth.

To refer to someone as important is to accept that such a person is a man or woman “of great significance or value.” And that is exactly what every individual is. Every man and woman irrespective of race, creed, political or cultural orientation is important, at least in the eyes of the Creator.

People don’t need to be affluent or be in some positions of authority in order to be considered important. The dignity of the human person does not reside in gold, titles or achievements, it is an inherent quality of every individual.

It is true that there is none who is perfect, we all have our shortcomings and weaknesses, yet everyone of us is valuable. We need to value people for who they really are; human beings created in the image of God. When we accept people as human beings created in the image of God, our love and respect for them will not be limited by what they do or do not do. It will be easier to forgive others when they go wrong.

Imagine how beautiful the world will be if we treat every person with whom we come in contact as if they are the most important people in the world. There will be no grounds for discrimination of any kind.

Permit me then to ask the question again, who are the most important people in the world? They are those who have been created in the image of God. And that includes you and I and every other individual living on the face of this planet we call earth.

In your day to day interactions with others, whenever you’re tempted to discriminate or look down on someone, remind yourself that people are deserving of your love and respect not because of their position or achievements but simply because of their status as persons created in the image of God.

ELEMENTS OF VOLUNTEERISM

Tue, 05 Jul 2016 11:11:00 GMT

BV SEMAH

“Non nobis solum nati sumus” is a latin quote by ancient Roman Politician Marcus Cicero which translate to english as “not for ourselves alone are we born”. This realisation seems to underscore the primary reason for volunteerism.

In Ghana, volunteerism is gradually becoming popular among the youth. It is heart-warming to note that in recent times, a number of students in our tertiary institutions do well to engage in some form of volunteerism especially during the long vacation.

This post is a reflection on four indispensable elements of volunteerism.

SELFLESSNESS… The first element of volunteerism should be selflessness. The “genesis” of every noble volunteering initiative is a desire to make life better for others, especially those who are underprivileged. Volunteers are those individuals who are commited to solving a problem in society not for any direct economic benefits but with the objective of putting smiles on the face of others. As english novelist George Elliot rightly wrote “what do we live for if not to make life less difficult for others”?
Be encouraged to volunteer for a worthy cause.

SACRIFICE… Selflessness leads to sacrifice. To sacrifice simply means to give up something valuable in order to attain a desired objective. True volunteerism requires a great deal of sacrifice. A response to the call to volunteerism demands a willingness to sacrifice one’s time, energy, money and other resources as well as stepping outside your comfort zone all in the name of making a difference in the life of others. Sometimes to show love will mean “to give, but give until it hurts”. And that’s what sacrifice is all about.
Be encouraged to volunteer for a worthy cause.

SERVICE… Another necessary element of volunteerism is service. One question that keeps ringing in the mind of well-meaning volunteers is; what can I do in my own small way to contribute to “healing the world and making it a better place.”? The foundation of volunteerism is LOVE. And love as Mother Teresa once said ” cannot remain by itself — it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action and that action is service.”
Be encouraged to volunteer for a worthy cause.

SUPPORT… Finally, every worthwhile volunteering endeavour needs the unremitting support of individuals, corporate bodies and even the political authourity. Individuals or groups who are volunteering to provide solutions to some identified problems and causing a positive change in society should be acknowledged and encouraged. You should support such ones financially if you have the means. If not, you can equally support with your prayers and that will also count as an invaluable contribution.
Be encouraged to volunteer for a worthy cause.

The dream of a brighter future can only be realised when changemakers, that is
SELFLESS individuals who are making
SACRIFICES to SERVE in love are
SUPPORTED .

The government alone cannot provide solutions to all the problems that exist in our communities. It is therefore important that once in a while people especially the youth who are exuberant engage in some form of volunteering initiative aimed at providing solutions to some identified problems.

Be encouraged to volunteer for a worthy cause.

IT’S HALF TIME…

Thu, 30 Jun 2016 05:40:00 GMT

BV SEMAH

Today is 30th june, and it happens to be the last day of the first half of the year. A lot has happened, and I believe this first half have served all of us with our own share of the ups and downs of life.
Every new year comes with a wave of excitement and energy that seems to put people in a highly expectant and optimistic mood. Cast your mind back to January 1st, and you’ll realise that this year was no exception.
As we journey through the year, the realisation is that there is an obvious dissipation of the excitement and energy that characterize the new year. So much so that by the time its “half time” most people have already given up on their new year resolutions or some goals they might set at the dawn of the new year.
The question is how do we remain optimistic and sustain the motivation and energy with which we begun the year? So that when its “full time” at December 31st, we can proudly look back and say that indeed we have improved in some areas of our lives and we’ve become better individuals than we were when the year begun. Below are some simple and practical steps we can take to maintain our enthusiasm and energy as we enter the second half of the year.

GOALS… Goals are very great source of motivation. US Poet Bill Copeland once wrote that “the trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your time running up and down the feild and never score.” Consider about 2 or 3 things you want to achieve by the end of the year and WRITE THEM DOWN. The advantage of having written goals is that it gives you a sense of direction and and focus.

PLAN… Its not enough to set goals, there’s the need to take action to realise those goals. Planning is about deciding what to do and what not to do to in order to achieve our goals. It’s a way of “bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” (Alen lakein). This can keep you motivated because you have an idea of what you want and also what to do and what not to do to achieve it.

KEEP A JOURNAL… A journal is a “personal record of occurences, experiences and reflections kept on a regular basis.” The benefits derived from keeping a journal are numerous. Robert Sharma once wrote that “writing in a journal reminds you of your goals and of your learning in life. It offers a place where you can hold a deliberate, thoughtful conversation with yourself.” If you’re not yet in the habit of Journalling, why don’t you think of getting yourself a diary or any notebook and start from today. At the end of the year when its “full time” you’ll realise you’ve learnt a lot from your own exeperiences and reflection. And of course, you can share these lessons with others as well.

BOOKS AND PEOPLE… “You are the same today that you are going to be five years from now except for two things: the people with whom you associate and the books you read.” (Charles “T” Jones.) Even the good book says that “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”(Proverbs 13:20)
Good books are also a great source of motivation. Pick at least six good books. These could be Christian literature, business books, motivational books or even a novel. Read one of these every month for the last six months of the year. And be assured that this habit alone will expand your world view and make you a better person. Think about it. Just one book per month, you can do it right? Good! The importance of reading can simply not be overemphasize.

GO ON A RETREAT… An unexamined life as Socrates said in not worth living. There comes a time in the life of every individual when the best thing to do is to take some time away from your ordinary life and situation. Its simply a time to reflect on where you are in life now, ponder over the choices you’ve made and whether they’ve been helpful or not. Again its a time to rest and give yourself some peace and calm, when you’re not distracted by notifications from your phone and other devices. You wouldn’t want to deny yourself of such a time.

The only reason I share these is because it helps me achieve incredible results whenever I’m disciplined to apply them. I hope it does same for you too.
As we begin the second half of the year, I think its a time to celebrate our achievements in the first half. And also appreciate the lessons learnt from our failures as well. Going foward, I strongly believe these simple yet practical steps when followed can tremendously shape us to become better individuals.

Permit me to wish you a happy new “half year”…

THE AKAA LESSONS #5

Mon, 27 Jun 2016 09:48:00 GMT

BV SEMAH

#5 LIFE IS SHORT
“Life on earth has a beginning and an end.”

For some time now I’ve been sharing some thoughts in this series titled THE AKAA LESSONS. It has been a reflection on my weeklong stay recently in the Akaa community in the Eastern region of Ghana. Today, with this post, I will conclude this series with lesson #5. I’ve come to love Akaa not only for the beautiful landscape and other natural attractions like the Boti and Akaa Waterfalls, Umbrella Rock and the Three Headed Palm Tree but also because of the creativity and determination of the children.

The Young at Heart GH. team planned to stay in Akaa for a week. We arrived on a Monday and before we realised it was Saturday. The week had come to an end and we had to take our leave despite the fond memories and connections we’ve established.

The concluding lesson I want to share in this series is that just like our stay in Akaa, life on earth has a beginning and an end.

Life on earth is short. No matter how old you grow, there will come a time when you will have to bow and take your leave. The question is not when that moment will be, for that is not ours to decide. The question is what we do with our lives whiles here on earth. Some people say that to live the best life, you’ve got to live each day as if it’s your last day on earth, for probably it is.

Many times I wake up in the morning and ask myself one question: “Is my life a blessing unto others? I wonder if I am making a difference on this earth. It’s a super serious question that YOU must also ask and answer.” (Eric Otchere)
As you go through today, be mindful of the fact that life on earth is not permanent. Life is beautiful. You and I should always strive towards making the world get the best out of our lives whiles it last.

Life is short

#ICTSummerCamp
#TheAkaaLessons

THE AKAA LESSONS #4

Fri, 24 Jun 2016 23:13:00 GMT

BV SEMAH

#4 NEVER STOP QUESTIONING
“The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.”
-Thomas Berger

Some people say curiosity killed the cat. Thank God the children of Akaa are not “cats”!!! They would have died before the end of our weeklong stay in the community. Some of the children I met in Akaa are the most curious individuals I have ever come across.

As I have indicated in earlier posts , we spent our time in Akaa engaging in teaching and learning activities. For most of these children, it was their first time of seeing a computer. And they were very excited about it.

However, from my observation, I realised that some of them were timid and lacked the courage to ask questions. Others on the other hand were bold to seek clarity and gain a better understanding of the concepts being taught. Those who mustered courage to ask questions acted on their curiosity to know how the computer works and they benefitted from it. At least they expanded their knowledge in basic computing.

Like these children, we all may be in search of some answers at one point or another in our lives. Let us not be like those timid children who failed to ask questions but rather learn from the example of those who mustered courage to ask relevant questions when necessary.

The student who desires to achieve excellent results should have the courage to ask relevant questions when necessary. The business firm which want to know what new product to bring onto the market should ask questions. The Christian who desire to grow
spiritually should ask questions. Policy makers should ask questions to know the right policies to formulate for citizens. Even Jesus asked His disciples questions when He wanted feedback in His ministry.(Mark 8:27-29)

The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge. (Thomas Berger). Questions are very fundamental to the human experience. The right answers may not be immediately ascertained. Nevertheless, asking the right questions will certainly set you on the path leading to the answers you seek.

Never Stop Questioning

#ICTSummerCamp
#TheAkaaLessons

THE AKAA LESSONS #3

Tue, 21 Jun 2016 07:59:00 GMT

BV SEMAH

#3 ARE THE YOUTH INCAPABLE?
“If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.”
–Betty Reese

Have you ever read the story of David, the young Israelite who defeated Goliath?(1 Samuel 17). Have you heard of Joan of Arc, the legendary French girl who led an army against the English in the Middle Ages? How about Anne Frank, who died at age 15 but left behind a diary that has inspired millions, and Mark Zuckerberg, who started Facebook when he was still a teen?
These individuals are only a handful of many young men and women who decided very early in life that they are going to make a significant and positive contribution to the world irrespective of their age.

The Akaa Story is no different. It paints a beautiful picture of the third lesson in this series. That is; with courage, humility and passion, young people can do amazing things to contribute to national and global development irrespective of their age.

The Akaa project is an initiative of Lauren Grimanis. In 2007, Lauren found herself one day in Akaa on a tour to the Boti Falls, Umbrella Rock and Three Headed Palm Tree. That day she met some children and her conversations with them revealed that the nearest School was an hour walking distance.

Lauren was only 17 years then, and at that age, she was moved to begin work on what is now known as The Akaa Project. A non-profit organisation that provide education to the children of Akaa by operating the Asiafo Amanfro Community School. The Project also provides healthcare and financial assistance to the people of the Akaa Community as well.
According to Lauren she “started the Akaa Project with no experience in global development, poverty alleviation or non-profits but the Akaa community was her inspiration to act.”

Like Lauren, all young people should be determined to do something positive with their lives. The world needs you to live a life of significance and make a positive contribution towards making it a better place to live in. Don’t waste away your youthful exuberance on frivolity.

“Life is short, youth is finite, and opportunities endless. Have you found the intersection of your passion and the potential for world-shaping positive impact? If you don’t have a great idea of your own, there are plenty of great teams that need you – unknown startups and established teams in giant companies alike.”
(Justin Rosenstein)

If there ever comes a time in your life when you feel or think you’re too young to make a difference, go read the stories of people like David , Joan of Arc , Anne Frank , Mark Zuckerberg , just to name a few and I bet you’ll think differently afterwards.

The Youth are Capable

#ICTSummerCamp
#TheAkaaLessons

THE AKAA LESSONS #2

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 17:48:00 GMT

BV SEMAH

#2 YOUR DREAMS MATTER
“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”
–Walt Disney

As I continue to reminisce about our weeklong stay in the Akaa community, one thing that keeps coming to mind is the beautiful future that these children desire for themselves. Today, I want to share with you another important lesson I learnt from my interactions with the pupils from Akaa. The second lesson is that “no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid.” For the purpose of this article, a dream will be synonymous to ‘a cherished aspiration, ambition or ideal.”

When asked what they wanted to become, most of the Children responded that they want to make a positive contribution to the world by becoming teachers, doctors, lawyers, fashion designers, pilots among others.
Some were ambitious and talked about their dream of building aeroplanes to help people travel to other countries, others also spoke of becoming architects to build good houses for people in their communities.
These were highly ambitious kids who have refuse to allow their environment to limit the scope of their imagination.

Like these children, we also possess the ability to imagine, which is one of the amazing gifts God has blessed mankind with. We have to make use of this gift.

What are your dreams? What future do you imagine for yourself? Refuse to let your environment put a limitation on your dreams. No matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid regardless of how big they are. So dare to dream big, bigger than yourself and your environment. Some of your dreams may seem far fetched and even cause you to doubt its possibility. But as Walt Disney once said “all our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” We can defeat our doubts by choosing to work on our dreams.

There are countless examples of men and women from seemingly low and insignificant backgrounds who rose to achieve their dreams against all odds. Let their example encourage you.

“When you dream, dream big. As big as the ocean ’cause when you dream it might come true, so when you dream, dream big.” (Ryan Shupe)

Your Dreams Matter

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#TheAkaaLessons

THE AKAA LESSONS #1

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 21:27:00 GMT

BV SEMAH

#1 APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE
“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.”
–Alphonse Karr

Two weeks ago, I joined a team of volunteers from Young at Heart GH. to embark on an outreach dubbed #ICTSummerCamp in the Akaa Community in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The weeklong outreach was under the theme “Reshape, Raise and Nurture A Future of Digital Innovators.”

Our one week stay in the Akaa Community in the Yilo Krobo District was an extraordinary experience. I learnt some lessons which I wish to share in this series titled “THE AKAA LESSONS”

The first lesson is that the people of Akaa appreciate what they have. The Akaa community and it’s evirons do not have access to basic amenities such as electricity, pipe-borne water, tarred roads. etc. Some children have to walk very long distance each day to attend the only community school in the area. In spite of these challenges, they are grateful for the blessings Nature has bestowed on them. Have a conversation with the natives and be sure they will mention and speak highly of the beautiful landscape, the amazing Boti falls and Akaa waterfalls, the famous umbrella rock as well as the three headed palm tree.

Like the people of Akaa, we have to appreciate what we have and count our blessings. It is important to count your blessings because it will not only “suprise you what the Lord has done” for you, it will also make you sensitive to the needs of others. We all have challenges in our lives. However, we should not let these challenges make us blind to the blessings God has bestowed on us.

It is not wrong to desire to have more, but your desire to have more should not cause you to fail to appreciate and cherish that which you already possess.

Appreciate what you have

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#TheAkaaLessons

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