Centre empowers women through education

The Women's Development Centre (WDC), is empowering women in the New Juaben Municipality through educational programs to promote higher levels of confidence and self sufficiency among the women.

The WDC is a project of All Nations International Development Agency (ANIDA), a NON Governmental Organization (NGO) that established the ALL Nations University College (ANUC) in Koforidua.

Mrs Theresa Appiah, Co-ordinator of the Centre, told the Ghana News Agency that since its establishment in 2004, 305 women had graduated from the WDC.

She said most of those women had gained the confidence of taking up employments in various workplaces, adding that some had gone back to school while others had become better business women who now know how to keep accounts, invest and access loans from banks.

Mrs Appiah disclosed that the WDC enrolled 120 women in 2004, 134 in 2005, 230 in 2006, 240 in 2007 and 184 in 2008/2009.

“These women had different educational backgrounds, from those who never had formal education to those who have completed Senior High School (SHS) and want to upgrade themselves in other subjects with the former in the majority”.

She said the WDC offered various courses including writing, numeracy, business skills, Twi and introduction to computers.

Mrs Appiah said there were two sessions, morning and evening sessions for the convenience of the women and that a class for a particular subject lasted for two hours.

She said the WDC also collaborated with the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and since 2006, it had offered various programs on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS with most of the women being trained as peer educators.

She said each week a counselling session was conducted for the women by qualified personnel from the Regional Hospital.

GNA