Accra: SOS Children’s Villages Canada and its partners are set to launch an innovative scholarship programme aimed at empowering Ghanaian youth this Wednesday. The initiative, named the ‘Youth Thrive Project,’ seeks to support young Ghanaians in achieving their educational aspirations.
According to Ghana News Agency, the programme is collaboratively organized by SOS Children’s Villages Canada, the Steele Family Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages Ghana, and the Head of State Award of Duke of Edinburgh International. The project’s primary focus is to enhance educational attainment, employability, life skills, and personal development while encouraging active community engagement among young people.
The project is supported by the Steele Family Foundation’s World-Impact-Scholarship and Education (WISE) Scholarship Programme. It targets 150 young individuals, referred to as WISE participants, over four years, specifically those aged 14-18 years in Junior High School. The project will be implemented in four SO
S Children’s Villages Ghana Programme locations-Asiakwa, Kumasi, Tamale, and Tema-as well as in public schools within the Dodowa community of the Shai-Osu Doku Municipality.
The initiative aims to address challenges faced by Ghanaian youth, such as limited access to educational opportunities, high unemployment, and a lack of mentorship and life skills. Through its phased implementation, the project promises to deliver scholarship access, academic success, enhanced employability, holistic development, and community engagement.
By 2028, the project envisions transitioning its 150 beneficiaries into employment, entrepreneurship, or higher education, thereby fostering positive socio-economic change in their communities. The WISE Scholarship Programme, powered by the Steele Family Foundation, utilizes a proprietary, technology-driven tool to streamline scholarship management and empower participants to track their progress.
The programme’s distinctive ‘Earn to Learn’ system evaluates participants through a thre
e-part point structure, which includes academic performance, extracurricular activities, and social and non-formal experiences. This evaluation is supplemented by reference letters and a final essay, determining the level of scholarship support participants receive and ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities in Ghana and abroad.
