Protecting, educating and empowering young people facing adversity

Context

Ghana is one of the most active countries in the field of children’s rights protection and has adopted specific measures to reform the youth protection system in schools. While schooling is free and compulsory, a number of challenges remain with regard to the quality of education, training of teachers and protection of children, particularly those living in rural areas.

In 2007, the NGO Right To Play implemented its play-based youth education and protection programme in disadvantaged rural areas in Ghana. By raising awareness of children’s rights and health matters among pupils and parents, as well as supporting teachers locally, Right To Play contributes to improving the quality of education and the development of young people. It is also active in seven other African countries (Burundi, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda).

Goals

• Educate, raise awareness and empower young people facing adversity through play
• Reduce school drop-out rates among youth dealing with adversity (security issues, health problems, acts of physical violence, etc.)
• Raise awareness of children’s rights among parents and teachers
• Inspire and contribute to the personal development of the citizens of tomorrow

Activities

• Implementing Right To Play programmes based on play and participation in sports
• Educating children about health (safe drinking water, hygiene practices, prevention of malaria and sexually transmitted diseases, advice on menstrual management, etc.)

Find out about Right To Play’s activities in Ghana

In the company of one of its sport ambassadors, the footballer Jérôme Boateng

Impacts

• Almost 43,000 young people (around 50% of them girls) benefit regularly from Right To Play programmes
• More than 1,100 teachers educated about children’s rights and trained on Right To Play programmes
• Halved the number of cases of malaria in areas benefiting from Right To Play programmes
• Promoting changes in young people’s behaviour and life-course development

Financement

• Project funded through donations and sponsorship
• Project supported by the National Bank of Canada, the Microsoft Foundation and the CIBC Children’s Foundation, among others

Photo credits : @RightToPlay