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Effective Mentorship Programme is a game changer for youth development- Impact Wave Initiative CEO

The President and Founder of Impact Wave Initiative, Ms Eunice Golloh, has indicated that effective mentorship is a game changer for youth workforce development as mentors provide individualized career advice and guidance to help mentees navigate the professional landscape and make informed career decisions.

She added that mentorship provides skill development for the youth as mentors impart practical knowledge and industry-specific skills in the process of preparing mentees for real-world challenges in addition to introducing them to professional networks as well as opening doors to new opportunities and collaborations.

Ms Golloh made this statement in celebration of the successful completion of the first cohort of the Impact Wave Initiative Mentorship Program. Seventeen ladies from across the African continent; Ghana, Liberia and Kenya participated in the Impact Wave Initiative Mentorship Program for a period of nine months.

During the period, they had traditional one-on-one mentoring where a mentee and mentor are matched, distance mentoring, where the mentor and mentee in the mentoring relationship are in different locations as well as group mentoring, the case where a single mentor is matched with a cohort of mentees.

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Recounting the motivation for initiating the Impact Wave Initiative Mentorship Program, Ms Eunice Golloh indicated that mentorship guarantees young people that there is someone who cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with their day-to-day challenges and makes them feel like they matter.

Research shows that mentors play a powerful role in providing young people with the tools to make responsible choices, stay in school and engage in their communities. Ultimately, mentoring connects a young person to personal growth and development and social and economic opportunities. Yet one in three young people will grow up without this critical asset. I can confidently say that the Impact Wave Initiative mentorship program has been a game-changer for these amazing young women who are ready to take on the world and make the most of the knowledge acquired over the period,” she emphasized.

In recent times, large groups of people and functions of an entire society are most likely to be affected by social issues. The youth just like adults are not spared from the distressing effects of these social problems. Unfortunately, young people are more susceptible to these challenges which sometimes affect their emotions and physical health.

In addition, advances in technology also means that today’s youth are facing new and different social issues. Electronic media has changed or amplified some teenage troubles: digital communication has changed the way teens interact with their peers. 

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Digital life also means that many teens lack essential interpersonal communication skills and much of this dysfunction can be linked to the use of technology.

For these reasons, Ms. Golloh believes mentorship, which has been identified as a clear choice to assist young people as they go through challenging life transitions, from dealing with stressful changes to transitioning to adulthood has become more important than ever. 

According to her, youth mentoring contributes to the personal development, education and elevation in the general lives of young people.

Mentorship existed as early as Ancient Greek in Europe then became widespread in the 1970s in the United States, mainly in training contexts, associated with important historical links to the movement advancing workplace equity for women and minorities and was described as an innovation in American management. It was described as the guidance, or direction given by a mentor, someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. Mentoring is a process for the informal transmission of knowledge, social capital, and the psychosocial support perceived by the recipient as relevant to work, career, or professional development”, she illuminated.

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Without a doubt, mentors play a powerful role in providing young people with the tools to make responsible choices, stay in school, and engage in their communities. The President and Founder of Impact Wave Initiative revealed that with a mentor, young people are 55% more likely to enrol in college and 55% to 78% more likely to volunteer regularly and make more positive choices.

Ms. Golloh announced her organization’s preparedness to commence processes leading to the second cohort of the Impact Wave Initiative Mentorship Program in 2024. The application and selection process begins January 2024 and the nine month mentorship starts in July 2024. She urged all young ladies between the ages of 18 and 30 years interested in scaling to the next level of their lives and professional careers to visit www.iiwave.org for more information on the program.

Impact Wave Initiative is a women community-driven non-profit organization dedicated to assisting young women to build their capacities and develop skills in order to become global change-makers and make a meaningful contribution to the development of their various countries. One of the pillars adopted by Impact Wave Initiative to achieve this is mentorship.

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GEXIM to host “SME GO” programme stakeholder sensitisation and fair on September 18

The Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Enterprises Agency and Development Bank of Ghana will be hosting the final phase of the stakeholder sensitisation exercise on the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Growth and Opportunity (SME GO) Programme at the Bank’s headquarters located at the Africa Trade House, in Accra.

The stakeholder sensitisation event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday  SSeptember18, 2024 at 10 am and will give attendees a deeper insight into the SME GO Programme with a focus on the dynamics of the programme, eligibility criteria application process and how the initiative seeks to assist Ghanaian SMEs to scale up and compete favorably in the international marketplace.

The confirmed speakers and dignitaries for the event will highlight how Ghanaian SMEs can leverage on the SME GO Programme to build the capacities and make them sustainable.

They include Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Hon. K. T. Hammond, Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, Greater Accra Regional Minister as well as the Chief Executive Officers of the Ghana Enterprises Agency and Development Bank of Ghana.

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Alongside the stakeholder sensitisation event, GEXIM will be hosting a special edition of its popular SME Fair dubbed “SME GO Mart” at the forecourt of the Africa Trade House, from 8am to 8pm.

 The theme for the “SME GO Mart” is “Celebrating Ghanaian SMEs” and it will provide a platform for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to showcase various top-quality Made-In-Ghana products.

Over hundred Ghanaian entrepreneurs with unique products have been confirmed to participate in the fair. 

They will be exhibiting several unique and authentic products at unbeatable prices including food and ingredients, beverages, skin and beauty care products, textiles, apparel, garments, leather footwear, slippers, and many others.    

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In July 2024, the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance launched the SME GO Programme, a ground breaking initiative which sought to provide Ghanaian SMEs with the needed funds, requisite technology and knowledge as well as other relevant resources and tools to aid their growth to become international giants.

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Zipline, GHS reduce maternal mortality in Ashanti Region by 56.4% – Study

A recent impact assessment study on aerial logistics to improve maternal health and emergencies has revealed a remarkable reduction in maternal mortality by 56.4% in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Zipline and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

This was revealed at the National Ghana Health Service Research Conference organized by the Ghana Health Service in partnership with Zipline. The study, which focused on the impact of aerial logistics in healthcare, also noted a 19.9% increase in antenatal visits and a 25% rise in in-facility births, signaling a significant boost in maternal health outcomes.

The success according to the study is attributed to the on-demand availability of blood and essential medical supplies provided by Zipline’s innovative drone delivery system. This consistent access to critical resources has increased patient confidence in the healthcare system, encouraging more mothers to seek necessary care throughout their pregnancies.

Speaking on the highlight of the study, the Research Officer at Ashanti Regional Health Directorate stated, “the significant decrease in maternal mortality we’ve seen is a clear indication of the vital role that reliable access to medical supplies plays in healthcare. The ability to deliver blood and essential medicines exactly when they’re needed has transformed how mothers in the Ashanti Region perceive and engage with the healthcare system.”

“It’s an achievement that speaks to the importance of introducing technology in healthcare delivery. Mothers now feel more confident in seeking care, knowing that they will receive the support they need throughout their pregnancies,”he stated.

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The study examined data from 191 health facilities, including hospitals, health centers, and Community-based Health and Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds. Among these, 99 facilities were served by Zipline’s aerial logistics, while 91 were not. The research employed adjusted rates for various key indicators, such as antenatal consultations, emergency visits, referrals, live births, hysterectomies, maternal deaths, and neonatal deaths, as the main dependent variables.

The qualitative aspect of the study aimed to describe and analyze the changes in satisfaction levels among healthcare providers and patients, perceived quality of care in maternal health and emergencies, and experiences related to the use of aerial logistics. In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 patients and 23 healthcare providers at the participating facilities.

Globally, maternal mortality remains a critical public health challenge, with stark disparities between high-income and low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the majority of maternal deaths occur in LMICs, often due to preventable causes. In Ghana, particularly in the Ashanti Region, the problem is critical, reflecting the broader challenges faced across the African continent. Beyond this, socio-economic, geographic, and infrastructural factors intensify the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions to improve maternal health outcomes.

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As maternal mortality continues to pose a challenge in low-to-middle-income countries, the success seen in Ghana’s Ashanti Region offers a promising model for other regions and nations striving to improve maternal health outcomes through innovative solutions. 

Zipline is poised to continue leading the way in revolutionizing healthcare delivery, ensuring that every mother has access to the life-saving resources, no matter where she lives.

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