To support students in continuing their education, our Youth Education Program works with youth ages 11 to 25. Our local partners find school placements, work with families, and supply all fees, uniforms, and learning supplies. Each child also receives a bicycle because schools are located several miles from their communities. Because girls face significant barriers to attending school, we also provide period packs, health education, and a girl’s club with mentoring and tutoring.
our impact
98 students in grades 3 to 12 receive all learning supplies and school fees
Three students are attending a regional college, the first from any of their communities
80 bicycles, 300 uniforms, and 500 textbooks distributed annually
40 girls participate in health education led by a local nurse and receive period packs
Continuing Education, Creating Opportunities
When children graduate from our schools, the Youth Education Program (YEP) helps ensure they can continue learning. In rural northern Ghana, there are no nearby public junior high schools—leaving students with limited options. YEP bridges this gap by providing nearly 100 students with school fees, uniforms, bicycles, books, learning supplies, mentoring, and health education so students can thrive. This program is rapidly growing as more students graduate from our community learning centers and more of our older youth pass high school entrance exams.
We provide required fees for students in grades 3 to 9 to attend private schools. These faith-supported institutions are the only facilities within reach of most of our villages. When students enter high school, they attend public boarding schools.
Abiba began high school this year and was selected by her peers as a youth leader. She helped design our period pack project and plans to become a midwife. She shared, “I hope to use the education I learned in my high school to teach my kids brothers and sisters and my juniors and anyone who needs my help.”
Ibrahim
Ibrahim will graduate from his agriculture-themed high school this year. We are thrilled that he will be joining us as a new teacher and also the coordinator of our tree planting/reforestation project. Ibrahim is an excellent student and told us, my favorite subject is science because we do practicals after every science lesson, and it makes us understand the material very well.”
Amina
As an eighth-grade student, Amina is about to take her high school entrance exams. When asked about school, she shared, my best subject is Dagbani and I love it because I want to know my tribe and my culture. My challenge in school is English as I find it difficult to understand it but I'm trying my very best to overcome it.” Amina would like to be a nurse and has been inspired by our girls’ health program and meetings with Nurse/midwife Madam Latifa.
School fees
Students in upper primary and junior high need bicycles to reach their schools which are several miles from their communities. Bikes are critically important especially for girls to reduce vulnerabilities of walking long distances.
Bicycles
These students board in residential schools, often far from their homes. We provide all of the required living supplies, which range from sheets to a broom. Students also receive help with transportation by bus and with the purchase of used cell phones so that they can remain connected to their families and our mentors.
High school support
Students are required to purchase several uniforms, to have shoes, and to provide their own textbooks and other learning supplies.
Learning supplies & uniforms
Our girls and boys clubs help youth navigate challenges and plan for their futures.
Mentorship & leadership opportunities
Includes menstrual health education, hygiene kits, and regular discussions with a nurse midwife.
Girls’ health support
Youth Education Program Priorities
Purchase 130 bicycles so all students can have reliable transportation next year.
Expand access to high school entrance exam tutoring and English language support.
Offer more leadership training and life skills sessions for students, particularly girls.
Further engage students in community service, tree planting, youth mentoring, and teaching our youngest students to read.
Purchase a used van so that our partners can have a way to transport students from the most rural village communities to school so that they can continue learning beyond our early primary schools. This van could also be used for health emergencies.
Provide enrichment opportunities, including a field trip to a football game, a visit to the regional national park to see wild animals, and other activities that will prepare these youth, most of whom have never left their villages, to attend regional and boarding schools.
