Girls' Life Choices
Duration: 2019 – 2021
Background
In Ghana, entrenched socio-cultural norms continue to hinder girls’ empowerment, confining them to domestic roles while limiting access to economic opportunities. Traditional gender roles perpetuate cycles of poverty and vulnerability, with 23% of girls married before 18 and 14% becoming mothers by 19 (GSS 2021). Recognizing this systemic challenge, UNICEF and KOICA launched the ‘Better Life for Girls’ program to transform gender norms through skills development and community engagement. Savana Signatures implemented this initiative across 80 communities, targeting the root causes of gender inequality by addressing both economic barriers and harmful cultural practices that restrict girls’ potential.
Strategy
The program implemented three core strategies:
- Economic Empowerment
- Placed 500 adolescent girls in non-traditional vocational apprenticeships (welding, electrical work, masonry, painting, auto mechanics, tiling, etc.)
- Provided specialized toolkits to all apprentices
- Secured internships for 80 high-performing participants with public/private sector partners
- Arranged mentorship sessions with female master craftspersons
- Community Transformation
- Engaged traditional leaders (chiefs, queen mothers) as gender equality champions
- Conducted weekly life skills sessions reaching 2,000 girls
- Organized community dialogues using sports/music/radio reaching 42,000 residents
- Established reporting mechanisms through the SHE+ Helpline
- Institution Strengthening
- Trained 32 teachers and community volunteers as program monitors
- Developed sustainability plans with Social Welfare departments
- Created apprenticeship tracking systems
- Built partnerships with vocational training institutionsÏ
Highlights
The initiative demonstrated significant impact:
- 96.3% of participants showed improved reproductive health knowledge
- All targeted community leaders exhibited positive attitude changes
- 500 girls acquired skills in male-dominated trades
- 80 beneficiaries gained industry experience through internships
- Established sustainable community protection networks
The program’s dual focus on individual empowerment and systemic change created lasting transformation, with structures remaining in place to continue supporting girls’ advancement after project completion.