Tamale gets youth centre

 
A youth centre to empower young people to create positive social change that will help in the socio-economic advancement of the country has been inaugurated in Tamale.

The centre, which is referred to as Global Platform (GP) was established through the collaborative efforts  of Action Aid Ghana (AAG) and Action Aid Denmark, both non-governmental organiations (NGOs).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Board Chairperson of Action Aid Ghana, Madam Marilyn Aniwa, said there were other global platforms in Tanzania, Nepal, El Salvador, Jordan, Kenya and Myanmar where approximately 4,000 volunteers and professionals were trained every year.

She said all the platforms were founded on experimental and participatory learning techniques that had evolved from the Danish folk high school system and Action Aid Denmark's focus on empowerment and social change.

“The global platforms create social change through training, capacity support, mentoring, networking, cultural exchange and incubation of young people with innovative ideas,” she added.

She said the GP in Ghana would be more than just a training centre, as it would focus on girls and young people in AAG local rights programmes in the Northern, Upper East and West, Brong Ahafo, Volta and Greater Accra regions by creating spaces for innovation, solidarity, cultural exchange and growth in a myriad of ways.

“The platform will also provide support for other civil society organisations, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies and regional co-ordinating councils,” she added.

The Deputy Country Director of AAG, Mr Yakubu Mohammed Sanni, said training at the global platforms were developed around topics such as governance, human rights, global citizenship, campaign management, youth mobilisation, social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, communication and new media tools, participatory techniques, project planning and many more.

He said the global platforms aimed at being “social laboratories” where dynamic young people could explore and develop methods of changing their communities for the better.

He said the platforms also sought to be a catalyst for social and political empowerment by inspiring young people to realise their ability to positively change their lives and those of the people in their communities.

The Northern Regional Manager of AAG, Madam Esther Boateng, expressed her gratitude to all stakeholders who had played various roles to make the establishment of the centre a reality.

She said what started as a dream between AAG and Action Aid Denmark to establish a world class training centre to empower young people had finally become a reality and expressed optimism that the centre would create the desired change in society.