GhaWARD empowers SHS students at the Bright Future Career Fair

By Amadu
Kamil Sanah/William Fiabu, GNA

Accra, July 11, GNA – The Ghanaian Women in
Agricultural Research and Development (GhaWARD) has organized a role model
event for young ladies of various Senior High Schools (SHS) and female
graduates within the Greater-Accra, Eastern, Central, Western and Volta
regions. 

The event dubbed: “Shaping the Path for a
Brighter Future – A GhaWARD High School Career Fair,” is the second in a series
of four role model events that will be organized across the country.

It is aimed at introducing young ladies to
various career opportunities in agriculture research and development and other
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) domains.

The event brought together 80 students from
Ideal College, Preset Pacesetters SHS, and many other high school graduates
from various senior high schools such as St. Mary’s, Accra Girls and Mfantsiman
Girls Senior High Schools and were taken through presentations by some GhaWARD
executives.

The event, which was held in partnership with
Australian Aid, GhaWARD and Coca-Cola Ghana Limited, is one of the
organization’s avenues to empower young women for careers in the agriculture
research and development.

One of the key objectives of GhaWARD is to
engage award fellows and empower young women to take on agricultural research
and development careers and leadership roles in their communities and
institutions in the country.

Dr Angela Parry-Hanson Kunadu, First Vice
President of GhaWARD, said the event is aimed at disabusing the minds of many
young ladies on some misconceptions about certain courses in their various
schools.

She urged students to make deliberate efforts
to establish themselves in careers that will contribute to the nation’s development
and make them role models for the next generation.

Dr Charles Tortoe, the Deputy Director at the
Food Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR – FRI) and also a mentor of the AWARD Fellowship Program, urged the
students to take full advantage of the event to make informed decisions about
their future careers.

Madam Celeste Macauley, the Political and
Economic Research Officer at the Australian High Commission, also urged the
participants to take advantage of the many scholarships offered by Australian
Aid as they progress in their careers.

Other speakers Ms Edna Ekua Kwansima Quansah
and Mrs Deborah Louisa Narh Mensah spoke on “Career Choices in Agricultural
Research and Development” and “The Journey into Tertiary Institutions”
respectively.

Participants are expected to make use of the
knowledge acquired, make informed decisions on their career paths, and excel in
whichever career they choose in the long term.

They were also given participants handbook
published for GhaWARD Career Fairs and were given the opportunity to act out
all they heard from the presentations in a role play and had interactions on
various topics such as Mentoring, Bridging the Gender Gap, Career Options and
Science Communication.

GhaWARD is the Ghana country chapter of the
African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), comprising of
fellows and mentors who have passed through the AWARD Fellowship; and research
scientists who identify with the vision and mission of the organization.

It seeks to contribute to the development of a
vibrant, sustainable and economically sound agricultural sector in Ghana
through empowerment, skills development and technology transfer.

It also seeks to provide a platform for AWARD
members in Ghana to empower women in the agricultural sector and
agriculture-related programmes, including leadership, entrepreneurship, and
technical skills, towards national food security and improved livelihoods.

Two more events are yet to be organized in
Kumasi and Tamale on July 13th and July 27, 2018 respectively and prospective
(co-)sponsors, individuals and/or organizations willing to partner GhaWARD in
these and future impactful events are welcome to contact the association via
email on: [email protected].

GNA

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