Thirty students of the University have implemented social impact projects in four communities in the Cape Coast metropolis.
With the support of grants from the Youth Empowerment Synergy (YES-Ghana) the students made up of five groups assessed the needs of five communities and implemented projects to address the most pressing challenge confronting the people.
The communities that benefited from the projects were Asenadze, Brabedze, Efutu Koforidua and Efutu Kokoado.
Preparation of Students
The award of the grants formed part of the Youth Leadership for Social Change project implemented by YES-Ghana in collaboration with UCC and the University for Development Studies with funding from the Ford Foundation. The awardees known as fellows received rigorous training in leadership for social change through the Youth Academy for Social Change. In addition to this, they were taken through professional mentoring from selected faculty members and industry players.
Projects of the Various Groups
The first group of students provided a mechanised water system to supply potable water to Asenadze community whiles the second group constructed a bridge to create easy movement across a stream to Efutu Koforidua. Residents of Efutu Kokoado benefitted from the installation of two solar light facilities from the third group whiles the fourth group built a community durbar grounds for the people of Brabedze. The last group made up of students from the College of Health and Allied Sciences screened residents in the four communities for sexually transmitted diseases and other ailments. Residents with severe infections were referred to the Efutu Health Centre for medical attention.
Taking turns to make presentations at the ceremony to induct them as fellows of Youth Leaders for Social Change, each group shared its experiences and the impact of the project on the lives of the beneficiary communities. Each of students was presented with a certificate at the ceremony.
Testimony by Students
Some residents who were present at the ceremony expressed gratitude to the students YES Ghana and its partners for coming to their aid. Mr. David Owoo, from Asenadze said the town was situated on a hill so the people had to walk for more than five kilometres to fetch water from a stream. He noted that since the mechanised water system uses electricity, the community has decided to charge a token in order to raise money to cater for that and its maintenance.“ We shall maintain the facility very well to ensure that we have reliable access to potable water so that your kindness will not be in vain,” he assured.
Mr. Isaac Kakraba from Brabedze said the community was overwhelmed with the zeal with which the students helped in the construction of the durbar grounds for the people. “We now have a centre where we can all converge for social functions like funerals, marriages, festivals and other events. We really thank the students and those who supported them to build this edifice” he said.
Youth Leadership for Social Change Project
The Executive Director of YES, Mr. Emmanuel Edudzie, said the award of the grants formed part of the Youth Leadership for Social Change project. He challenged the fellows to continue to initiate projects that will touch the lives of communities to demonstrate that they have really acquired knowledge and skills in leadership. He announced that the project would be extended to the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Sunyani in the 2018/2019 . “I, therefore, urge students who are ready to contribute to the development of the nation and also make a positive change in the lives of people to apply for the 2018/2019 cohort of the project” he said.
The Vice Dean of Students Affairs, Mr. Mr. Edward Kofi Ntim, commended YES Ghana and Ford Foundation for equipping students of the University to help bring transformation in the lives of the five communities. “Though you supported our students to implement the projects but we are taking the glory,” he noted.