With the right mentorship, many girls could skip negative peer pressures and pursue their dreams. But many at times, getting connected to the right people is a challenge for many young ladies. Girls Shall Grow, an Obuasi based Non-governmental Organisation is empowering young girls to pursue and achieve their dreams. Louisa Amoah started this organisation in 2018. Today, lets celebrate this wonderful woman giving hope to young girls in Obuasi and the country as a whole.
Early Life
Louisa Amoah is a wife and a mother of three. She was born in Tarkwa in the Western region of Ghana to a mother who was a Secreatry and father who was a sales personnel. She started her basic school education at the School of Mines in Tarkwa. After her basic school education, she furthered on to Archbishop Porter Girls to study General Arts. She was the Chapel Prefect when she got to her final year. Her love for educating others lead her to Wesley College of Education to study and acquire a Diploma in Basic Education. Afterwards, she continued to the University of Cape Coast to study for her BED French which she completed in 2011. Louisa Amoah is currently a French teacher at the Ghana Education Service.
Starting Girls Shall Grow
In February 2018, Louisa succumbed to the urge to support young girls to achieve their dreams by starting Girls Shall Grow. Registered at the Registrar General Department, she started organising programs to help young girls, starting from those in her school.
The organisation seeks to empower girls in communities to take up leadership roles and also be responsible women tomorrow. It organizes events that bring girls together to learn, share their experiences and prepares them to be strong willed ladies in the society, the nation and world at large. These are achieved through sensitization programmes like seminars, workshops and community outreaches with the help of Mentors to guide them achieve their goals.
Projects Undertaken
Right after starting Girls Shall Grow in February, 2018, she organised Capacity Building On Self Esteem workshop for young girls on 25th May, 2018. The program brought together over 200 girls and Jannette Adu Poku, an Insurance expert and the main speaker for the event outlined some of the things that could help the young girls build their confidence which included dressing and personal hygiene.
On 25th August, 2018, Girls Shall Grow again organised a Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights Workshop which was attended by almost 180 girls in Obuasi.
In December the same year, Over 150 young girls in the Obuasi Municipality and Obuasi East district were enlightened on career guidance. The event which took place at the St. Thomas Cathedral Social Centre in Obuasi, brought together 8 facilitators in diverse fields. For easy facilitation, the girls were put into groups, in which each facilitator had the opportunity to present to them on their area of specialty.
In June, 2019, Girls Shall Grow organised a skill training workshop for over 200 girls in Obuasi. The girls were trained on using beads to make necklaces, wristbands and earrings.
Speaking to the media after the event, Louisa Amoah said the training will serve as an alternative livelihoods for the beneficiary girls.
In September, 2019, in partnership with 350 Ghana Reducing Our Carbon, they organised a Climate Strike. The September 2019 climate strikes, also known as the Global Week for Future, were a series of international strikes and protests to demand action be taken to address climate change, which took place from 20–27 September 2019. Through the event, Girls Shall Grow and 350 GROC carried out a series of education on ways to protect the environment from climate change.
On 31st December, 2019, Girls Shall Grow launched its Anti-teenage pregnancy campaign to help reduce the pregnancy rate among teenagers in the Obuasi Municplaity and Obuasi East district. Girls Shall Grow aimed to achieved this through media sensitization, workshops and mentorship.
Girls Shall Grow in December, 2020 successfully launched their Menstrual Hygiene Management Campaign dubbed RED MEANS KEEP GOING. The launch took place at Mampamhwe, a suburb of Obuasi East District. Nana Frimpong Boamah, the chief of Mampanhwe, and his community leaders including the Assembly member of the community, Aboagye Tanko were there to grace the occasion. A representative from the Ministry of Health, Obuasi East, was also present. Sanitary pads were distributed to over 200 girls and women in the communication. Participants were also trained on how to make reusable sanitary pads.
On the World Menstrual Hygiene Day in 2021, Girls Shall Grow observed the day with the Binsere community in Obuasi. The event was attended by students, teachers and community members including the Queen mother and Assemblymember of the area.
On 18th September, 2021, Girls Shall Grow organised The LIVING RIGHT CONFERENCE, an event which focused on the moral and core values of the young lady. Over 230 participants attended the event and Pastor Mrs. Nana Afia Boachie Tsikata, the Guest Speaker treated the theme ‘THE UNIQUE ME’.
On the International Women’s day celebration in 2022, Girls Shall Grow came out with a press release calling on institutions, churches and families to help eliminate stereotypes, discrimination and bias.
Girls Shall Grow on Saturday, 2nd April, 2022 successfully had our Annual young ladies retreat. About 100 girls and eight Mentors participated.
On the appealed to Government to consider supporting local firms to venture into the production of sanitary pads. This they said will enhance access to Sanitary pads, especially at the rural areas., Girls Shall Grow partnered with the Education and Health Directorates in Obuasi to sensitize school girls in Obuasi on Menstrual Hygiene. Louisa Amoah appealed to Government to consider supporting local firms to venture into the production of sanitary pads. This she said will enhance access to Sanitary pads, especially at the rural areas.
On 3rd June,2022, Mrs.Louisa Amoah educated students of the Bogobiri M/A JHS on teenage pregnancy and it’s consequences on their academic and future. She again spoke to students of the Boete M/A JHS on the same theme.
In 2020, Louisa Amoah launched a TV Show educating young singles on how to enjoy their singlehood till they are married. The show hoped to provide lessons on how singles could get themselves occupied whiles waiting to get married.
Achievements and Awards
In 2008, Louisa Amoah was the Western Region’s representative at TV3’s popular reality show, Ghana Most Beautiful. She also featured on popular Youtube Talk Show, The Wundef Show where she shared her story to the world.
Louisa Amoah was the Winner at the 2021 Humanitarian Awards Global under the Reproductive Health category.
Family
Louisa Amoah has been married since 2012 and has 3 children, two boys and a girl.
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