International Needs Ghana, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is implementing the Promoting Adolescent Safe Spaces (PASS) project as part of the Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage. Launched in 2019, the project was initially implemented in the Cape Coast Metropolis and Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality but has since expanded to three additional districts: Mfantsiman, Agona West, and Assin Foso Municipalities, reaching approximately 87 communities in the Central Region of Ghana. The primary goal of the project is to ensure that girls fully enjoy their childhood, free from the risk of child marriage, while empowering them to take control of their own lives.
PASS employs a structured approach, utilizing health workers, teachers, and community volunteers to deliver a 31-hour curriculum to engage adolescents in safe spaces.
Safe Spaces for Adolescent Girls
The safe spaces serve as a platform for adolescents, including pregnant adolescent girls, adolescent mothers, victims of child marriage, school dropouts, girls with special needs, and school-going girls. These adolescents access critical support services and engage in educational activities that affect their well-being and development. These spaces provide a s supportive environment where girls can gather weekly to play, learn, and receive guidance from trained community facilitators. Girls are encouraged to voice their concerns and ask questions about issues affecting them. The project engages adolescent girls in discussions on:
Safe Spaces for Adolescent Boys
In 2022, adolescent boys and young men were introduced as partners in the fight against child marriage. This approach aims to encourage positive masculinity and promote gender-equitable norms that challenge harmful cultural practices. These boys and young men also become allies in advocating for fairness and equity while fostering positive masculinity among themselves to prevent gender-based violence and discrimination.
Parenting and Caregiver Teams
In addition to the girls and boys, parents are engaged in sessions on positive parenting techniques and effective communication to strengthen parent-child relationships. Platforms are created for adolescent girls and boys to interact with their parents and caregivers, sharing matters that affect them. In these sessions, parents and caregivers listen to their adolescents in a supportive environment to build trust, connection, and strengthen family bonds.
Stakeholder Engagements
In collaboration with key institutions such as the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Department of Social Welfare (DSW), and the Ghana Education Service (GES), as well as through direct engagement with adolescents, PASS strengthened the capacities of state institutions, including the Domestic Violence and Victims’ Support Unit (DOVVSU), planning and budget officers, and other relevant stakeholders. These institutions received training on child marriage, ASRH&R, SGBV, and the impact of COVID-19 on adolescent girls. The collaboration also enhanced adolescent-friendly services, facilitated case referrals, and encouraged adolescent girls to report abuse or seek support at child-friendly centers.
A key component of PASS is community engagement. Platforms are created for adolescent girls, parents, and caregivers to discuss strategies for ending child marriage and other harmful practices.
Key Achievements
Through PASS, adolescents were empowered to advocate for their rights, while communities gained the knowledge and tools necessary to protect and support them. By fostering collaboration among adolescents, families, and institutions, the project made significant strides toward ending child marriage and creating a safer, more inclusive future for girls.
