New Report: Young Women’s Feminist Leadership Programme (2025 Northern Ghana Training)
In January 2025, a cohort of 21 young women took part in the first TuWezeshe Akina Dada Young Women’s training in Tamale, Ghana. TuWezeshe Akina Dada is Swahili term for ‘empowering our sisters’. This is a feminist leadership training programme that aims to inspire a generation of young African women to engage in both civil and political spaces and take collective action to tackle violence against women and girls and gender inequality. TuWezeshe Akina Dada is a one-year fellowship programme, where young women Fellows develop core leadership skills, are mentored by female leaders and receive mini grants to initiate their own Social Action Projects.
TuWezeshe Fellows learn how to shape and influence local policy agenda on VAWG, build solidarity with other young women activists and amplify their concerns and demands through activism and change makers at local and national platforms.
This report outlines the incredible social action plans led by the TuWezeshe fellows in Ghana in 2025 after they participated in this training. The report is being launched in Ghana on Monday 2nd February.
For over 3 years, FORWARD, TuWezeshe Global and ActionAid Ghana have worked together to build the leadership capacity of 60 young women. As a partnership we all recognise that it is impossible to create a more equitable world unless and until all women and girls everywhere are empowered and able to take their rightful place in all aspects of life in their societies. We also recognise that patriarchy underpins all societal norms, it is important to ensure that building and supporting young women in their leadership journeys become the foundation for transforming societies and lives of women and girls in our communities.
Examples of social action plan (SAP) outcomes for girls in Ghana:
- Girls acquired public speaking and advocacy building capacity
- Girls were able to voice their views on education and the challenges to staying in school in a supportive forum
- Beyond the success of the workshops and community stakeholder meetings, 15 teachers and head teachers committed to being friendly adults to the young women in school should they need support on the issues discussed or other issues
- Within 2 months, 8 of the 15 women who undertook the violence training had already begun to share knowledge gained with other women’s groups and community members. Some reported positive feedback from family members who had noticed their new leadership in promoting non-violent relationships
- Improved awareness on sexual harassment, and channels for reporting and support systems available to students
- Some male students participated as peer educators, helping to normalise gender inclusive conversations and challenge harmful norms
- Students requested more frequent sessions and ongoing discussions about power dynamics, consent and gender equality
Read the full report here
