(Left) Dr. Doris Mawuse Aglobitse, UNFPA Head of Gender Unit, makes presentation to Harriet Hudson-Ghartey, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Ashiedu Keteke sub-metro
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations’ sexual and reproductive health agency, has donated machinery to beneficiaries under the Prada Group project at Ussher Hospital in Accra.
Presenting the items to the hospital, the Head of Gender Unit at the UNFPA, Dr. Doris Mawuse Aglobitse, explained that the donation was aimed at protecting the unique fashion training gender equality programme, “Fashion Expressions: The Stories She Wears”.
It was also part of activities put in place by the UN in Ghana to mark the month of March as International Women’s Day (IWD).
Project
Dr. Mawuse Aglobitse said the project combines the leadership of UNFPA and the PRADA Group, which is a global leader in the fashion industry in promoting these ideals. She stressed that it aims to leverage the social and economic power of fashion as a vehicle to promote women’s empowerment and sexual and reproductive health in a six-month training programme for young women in Ghana and Kenya.
According to her, she has been part of the pilot training since it was launched in May 2022 with two cohorts in Ghana and Kenya, saying “I am overwhelmed by the assertiveness of these young girls I’m seeing today as compared to the girls I saw some 6 months ago”.
Dr. Mawuse Aglobitse also revealed that it was through UNFPA-Ussher Hospital partnership that her outfit realised that the hospital had innovative ideas, which is a Sewing Centre.
“This means that the hospital doesn’t give these girls only information and services but they also empower them economically… And since the UNFPA at the global level also had the opportunity to partner PRADA Group, we are giving the vulnerable girls holistic empowerment,” she revealed.
She pointed out the number of girls was about 30 but two dropped out. “In Accra, UNFPA took 16 of the girls but 13 are graduating, with two dropping out in the process, one falling sick, and the other was forced by the husband to stop. And we took 15 in Volta region,” she pointed out.
Skills
She said the project had equipped these participants with knowledge and practical skills relevant for the fashion industry and facilitate internships with local fashion companies to establish long-term work opportunities for them.
Dr. Mawuse Aglobitse further indicated UNFPA is working with creative industries to find innovative ways to support young women from ‘left behind’ communities to assert their rights and choices in order to unlock their full potential.
“After the six months, fortunately, some of them have gotten brands and industries to do industrial attachment. Fashion is a powerful platform to provide long-term, sustainable education and development opportunities across the world. We are proud of the girls, and we’ll continue to push boundaries for sustainable development solutions, so that all the financial investment in acquiring the skill won’t go down the drain,” she assured.
Aftermath
Dr Mawuse Ablogbitse also disclosed that at the end of the project, there’s a full scholarship package that PRADA will give a girl from either Ghana or Kenya who will distinguish herself creditably to New York.
“The competition is going to be keen, so if we’re looking at 30 or 28 from Ghana, then we looking at same from Kenya, and we’ll go into this competition and the winner earns that opportunity to University in New York to upgrade in Fashion Design for one year,” she added.
She, therefore, expressed confidence that the winner will emerge from Ghana, urging the media to tell the story of the young girls to help realise the dream.
The Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Ashiedu Keteke sub-metro, Harriet Hudson-Ghartey, who received the items on behalf of the hospital, commended the UNFPA for its benevolence.
She stressed that the young girls are powerful agents of change, and empowering them economically benefits the whole society, and advised parents not to look down on certain professions like dressmaking.
She also entreated parents, development partners, and other stakeholders to help create opportunities not just in fashion, but photography and vocational and technical skills to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of Ghana.
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