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Camfed's Response

Camfed Ghana was established in 1996. It currently operates in 13 districts through 133 partner schools.

The high rate of girls’ exclusion from school stems from chronic poverty, which is particularly pronounced in rural areas. Camfed operates in the Northern Region, which is one of the poorest regions of Ghana. Many girls leave school to do kayayo, a customary practice where poor girls go to cities to work as street porters. With no education, no shelter, little money and no family to support them, many girls resort to a life on the streets, leaving them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Cama members identify girls affected by the practice and provide the support necessary for them to return to their families and recommence their education. They also identify girls who are about to go to kayayo and after consultation with their family and schools, provide through the Safety Net Fund, the necessary resources to keep them at school.

There is a shortage of female teachers and role models in rural communities. Camfed is supporting young rural to study for the Untrained Teachers Diploma in Basic Education (UTDBE). This program, carried out in partnership with the Ghana Education Service, aims to train and upgrade all untrained teachers currently serving in schools in Ghana by means of a four year diploma. Supporting these ‘pupil teachers’ to complete the UTDBE not only provides young women with a vocation and route out of poverty, but also benefits the rural schools in which they are posted. Many rural schools have no female teachers, and in those that do, the teacher is often untrained. While they are training, the pupil teachers supported by your grant work in rural schools, help to create a supportive environment in which girls are encouraged and valued. Upon completing the course, these young women will be recognized as fully qualified teachers and enter employment with the Ghana Education Service.

Camfed has been working to build the confidence of rural girls by establishing community after-school clubs. These ‘friendship circles’ provide an open and supportive environment in which girls are free to discuss issues which affect their lives, something which is not normally encouraged in traditional society. Sessions have covered topics including the dangers of kayayo, fostering, early marriage, personal hygiene and other critical health issues such as HIV/AIDS, and child labour.

The lack of opportunities in formal education and formal employment for girls in the Northern Region leaves many women struggling to support themselves and their families. In response, Camfed’s Seed Money program has provided many women with the chance to start their own businesses and become economically empowered and independent: so far in 2007, 209 young women have been trained in business skills and 119 have received grants and loans. In addition, Camfed has supported 105 Cama members through the Government’s Youth Employment Program, a program designed to provide employment opportunities to young people. These Cama members are receiving allowances from the government and on-the-job training in the health and education sectors.

Read about Camfed's impact in Ghana in 2007.

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