HOPin Academy empowers youth to be agents of change

HOPin Academy, an entrepreneurial support organisation based in Tamale in the Northern Region, has educated and mobilised youth to become agents of change within their communities.

It also empowered them to actively promote peace, tolerance and development. This follows the launch of a transformative, non-partisan project – Youth Empowerment for Peaceful Elections – which began with a radio engagement to raise public awareness, followed by a stakeholder forum to gather input for refining the initiative.

Participants included civil society organisations, media outlets, religious bodies, youth groups, traditional leaders and authorities. A subsequent workshop trained 350 young participants, including first-time voters, who shared their experiences of the impactful training sessions.

Spanning from August to December 2024, the project featured workshops on voting procedures, democratic rights, peacebuilding, conflict resolution, leadership and advocacy.

Additionally, trained youth peace ambassadors engaged their communities by organising peace day events and collaborating with local media outlets to deliver voter education messages to a wider audience.

HOPin Academy aims to leave a lasting impact on the socio-political landscape of Northern Ghana, contributing to a more peaceful and stable future.

The event brought together the Gushe Naa of Sagnarigu, the Second in Command of the Regional Police Headquarters, the Northern Regional Youth Parliament President and the NCCE Metropolitan Director to engage the community on the vital role of Ghanaian youth in promoting peace. A peace rally and unity games were also organised to further spread messages of peace and foster tolerance among the youth.

One of the notable successes of the project was the volunteer spirit of 50 young people who committed to serving as peace ambassadors. These ambassadors received training on electoral process, civic rights, effective advocacy, communication skills and the importance of peaceful participation in elections.

They were encouraged to use their platforms to promote peaceful elections, share accurate information, and engage in constructive dialogue to raise awareness and foster a collaborative community where young people could exchange ideas and support one another.

“At HOPin, we believe youth empowerment is crucial for promoting a culture of peace and democracy, particularly during election periods. It involves raising awareness about the acceptance of youth voices and fostering responsible citizenship,” said Josephine Awinpoka Akumbuno, Project Officer at HOPin Academy.

“The Youth Empowerment For Peaceful Elections project was crucial for cultivating a culture of peace and active civic engagement among our youth.

“By empowering them with the necessary tools and knowledge, we paved the way for a more peaceful and democratic future,” she noted.

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