Planting New Seeds of Change in Ghana: But Still, We Rise, We Stand, And We Fight!

“In the silence of the night, a cry echoes through the land.
A plea for help, a call to stand—
Against the violence meted out to daughters, mothers, sisters, and friends.
Their bodies bruised, their hearts torn, their spirits shattered.
Like a broken heart, the scars run deep…
But still, we rise, we stand, and we fight.”

This poignant poem by Razika, one of 20 young women at the first TuWezeshe Global Young Women’s Leadership Training in Tamale, Northern Ghana, captured the essence of the training to build change agents to tackle violence against women and girls. Her spoken word set the tone for five days of deep reflection, experiential learning, and transformative growth. The training marked a milestone in a journey to empower, amplify, and uplift young women to take up the mantle of leadership in the fight against violence, inequality, and stigma.

Creating a movement rooted in sisterhood and empowerment

The TuWezeshe Leadership Programme in Ghana is part of a dynamic three-year partnership between three NGOs FORWARD (UK), ActionAid Ghana, and TuWezeshe Global. Our goal is to equip 100 young women from deprived communities with feminist leadership skills that will empower them to drive change in their communities. “TuWezeshe Akina Dada”, Swahili for “Empowering Our Sisters” is more than a name. It is a rallying cry for activism and social change.  FORWARD launched this programme in 2017 and has trained over 400 young women in the UK and Africa.  TuWezeshe is not just a training. It is a catalyst for change. A platform. A sisterhood. A revolution.

 

Creating a safe space to learn, heal, and lead

From personal development to social advocacy, self-care and skills development, the Tamale training immersed participants in self-discovery, collective learning, and bold envisioning.  The creation of a safe and supportive environment helped the young women to share, bond and heal from their trauma and pain.

For Asantewa, the experience was eye-opening:

“The TuWezeshe Akina Dada training has been transformative, offering invaluable insights into the critical issues facing women today. As someone deeply committed to education advocacy for girls, this training sharpened my voice and strengthened my resolve.”

 Adamu, a nurse, echoed that sentiment:

“This week gave me priceless tools, self-worth, self-care, and the ability to brand myself confidently. I now understand how to use social media for advocacy, unpack harmful social norms, and take real action against gender-based violence. I can’t wait to launch my social action initiative- ‘ANTI-VAWG DIPLOMATS.’”

And for Sandra, the training ignited a fire:

“This isn’t just training, it’s a call to action. It’s about sisterhood, empathy, and leading from the heart. Leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about courage. It’s about leaving no one behind.”

 

Learning to speak out about difficult issues during the training

The beauty of the TuWezeshe programme lies in its unique blend of professional development, healing, and providing opportunities to have fun.

 The “Fireside Conversations” became pivotal moments, safe spaces where no topic was off-limits. Anonymous questions gave voice to the unspoken fears about sexuality, forced marriage, ambitions, poverty, vulnerability and trauma.  For many of the young women (Fellows), it was the first time they accessed counselling support, often an unaffordable luxury. Fellows queued patiently to speak to the counsellor, indicating the deep, unmet need. The programme gave them more than knowledge, it gave them validation, community, and hope.

 

From vision to action

On the final day, the energy in the room was electric. Each Fellow pitched her social action project (SAP) to a panel of eight dedicated mentors. These SAPs were not just ideas, they were areas of action to address different dimensions of violence and abuse. Tackling violence and abuse requires planting numerous seeds of change. The SAPs focused on:

• Partnering with health professionals to combat intimate partner violence
• Creating safe spaces for girls to speak, dream, and lead
• Advocating for the rights of girls in apprenticeship trades
• Empowering women to tackle abuse through economic resilience
• Supporting girls to stay in school against social norms that made girls leaving school acceptable

Each fellow will receive six months of mentorship and seed money to bring these visions of change into life in their communities.

 The power of mentorship and peer support

Mentorship in TuWezeshe is more than guidance, it’s a feminist partnership. Mentors don’t stand above; they walk beside the Fellows. They challenge, uplift, and open doors to new possibilities. In a recent review of the impact of the TuWezeshe Programme, Fellows shared how mentors encouraged them to be bold and rethink their leadership styles.

Just as powerful was the peer support network that Fellows created within their cohort. The WhatsApp platforms are always vibrant and supportive. Fellows held space for each other, provided advice, shared job opportunities, and celebrated every victory, big or small.

 As Martha reflected:

“I vote for peer support—it was so strong. I cherish it to this day.”

A journey with deep roots

Tamale was the perfect backdrop for us, the facilitators. The dusty Harmattan winds, the smell of the dry earth and delicious guinea fowl dinners amidst, the flickers of “dumsor” (Ghana’s infamous power cuts) were all part of the rhythm of this unforgettable journey. For us the facilitators, this was a great homecoming. For the Fellows, a beginning.

The training also marked the start of FORWARD’s 40th anniversary, themed “Seeds of Change.” And seeds, indeed, were planted among the girls in Tamale.

TuWezeshe’s impact continues to ripple outward. In Tanzania, a follow-up study on Fellows trained in 2018 and 2019 revealed lasting transformations. Many have stepped into range of leadership roles, started organizations, and continued to break barriers.

Hortencia, now a medical doctor, said:

“I wanted to be part of this (programme) because I believe in meaningful change, especially for adolescent girls and young women in my community.”

Doreen, another alumni, noted that:

“I gained confidence, self-care, communication, and leadership skills that helped me launch my own organization. TuWezeshe changed my life.”

 

Its time to be part of our legacy- Stand with us.

At FORWARD, we are incredibly proud of the TuWezeshe Programme and the waves of change it continues to ignite. As we mark four decades of advocacy and impact, we invite you to stand with us and be part of our legacy. Help us bring TuWezeshe to more marginalized young women in the UK and Africa. Help us nurture the next generation of visionary leaders, fearless advocates, and sisters-in-solidarity.

Because still, we rise.
Still, we stand.
And always, we fight.

This article is written by

Naana Otoo- Oyortey, MBE, Executive Director of FORWARD

Adwoa Kwateng- Kluvitise, Founder and Board Member of TuWezeshe Global