Parents who have wards attending the Abolato D/A Basic School at Zuarungu-Nyokoko in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region, have been sensitized on the importance of gender equity.

The sensitization programme was organized by International Needs Ghana [INGH], a Christian NGO working to improve the well-being of children.

It was organized as part of the organization’s strategies to ensure equity in the raising of the boy and girl child, to reduce gender stereotypes and ensure proper physical and academic development of all children, especially girls.

Programme Officer for International Needs Ghana, Benjamin Awah who facilitated the session, engaged the parents using the Boys and Girls Roles Analysis Flash Cards from the UNICEF Child Protection Toolkit.

Using a participatory approach, he guided the parents to appreciate the uneven distribution of daily chores among boys and girls in the typical Ghanaian home.

The parents agreed to the need for a balance in the number of chores, to reduce the burden on children so they can have adequate time and energy for academic work. 

“My girls do most of the work at home while my boy's only work is to go to bring my animals back home at sunset. But after taking part in this engagement, I think I will give the boy more work so he can help his sisters with the chores”, one of the fathers said.

In addition to the sensitization, International Needs Ghana has created a relationship between community leaders and the Department of Social Welfare at the district to ensure the protection of children from all forms of abuse and exploitation.

Manager for the Education Unit of International Needs Ghana, Reverend Isaac Quarcoo reiterated the need for collective effort for the protection of Children.

 “Our country’s laws and policies enacted to protect children are great but without our collective effort, the children can never be protected” he said.

 The sensitization program is one of the many interventions implemented by International Needs Ghana, to create awareness and empower community level stakeholders to protect the best interest of children.