Over 500 students in the Kumasi Metropolis have undergone the Lady Julia’s mentorship masterclass life coaching.
Beneficiaries were sensitized on health consciousness and encouraged to observe healthy relationships with the opposite gender.
The initiative under the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, mentored beneficiaries to pursue their dreams to the fullest and stand out to bridge inequality gaps.
The mentorship masterclass was to commemorate International Women’s Day, bringing selected Senior High School students across the Ashanti region together.
The masterclass themed “DigitAll: Ensuring Today’s Technology Benefits all Girls and Women”, was in line with United Nations’ theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality,” highlighting gender gaps in STEM education and careers.
The annual mentorship masterclass assembles female models who have a great impact on societies to mentor and share experiences with young girls and women.
The event aims to positively direct female youth into cultivating acceptable habits and taking up high positions in their societies.
Speakers included Mrs. Margaret Boateng Sekyere, Rev. Akua Ofori-Boateng, Dr. Phyllis Tawiah, and Ing. Eunice Akyereko Adjei.
Her Royal Highness, Lady Julia Osei Tutu revealed the foundation’s commitment to promoting STEM pursuits among females in Ghana.
“You’d always think that we have learned so much, but there is so much to learn about technology. We need to educate ourselves. And these days it’s very simple. There’s nothing we cannot learn about on the little devices we hold. Ho back to your schools and tell your friends what you have learned today. Use technology to benefit yourselves.
“We will take up the challenges and try to organise some competitions. We would work very closely with the Education Service to see how we can organize the competition to improve the study of the stem. Unfortunately, the labs we have in schools are not up to standard, we will continue to work with the ministry of education to see what can be done,” she said.
Executive Director for the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, Nana Afia Kobi Prempeh, also indicated that the training was influenced by the fast pace of modernisation.
“This day was about her Royal Highness, Lady Julia bringing together young girls, to speak to them and mentor them and share the direction of their lives.
“The world is stem now and one of the topics we majored in is demystifying stem and making it applicable in everyday life. The theme was influenced by the overall theme that the UN has. And we are highlighting how the technology could be used to help all girls,” she said.
Beneficiaries are happy the programme has impacted their lives.
“We were taught to be brave and stand up for ourselves no matter the situation. We are privileged to have this chance to be here. Not all Girls get the opportunity to be educated about these things.
“I learned a lot today about financial literacy and lifestyle etiquette and we are saying a very big thank you to the organisers, what they taught us will have a very good impact on us,” said a number of the beneficiaries who shared their experiences.