As part of the International Women’s Day celebration, GIS Secondary students through the Girls Empowerment Club organized a list of activities to commemorate the day that was celebrated on 8th March 2018.

The main focus of the Empowerment Club is to empower. The Club aims to instill confidence in students despite their flaws and insecurities. It also educates members on the need to help others realize that they are strong and can do anything they put their minds to.

To commemorate the day, a special assembly on gender equality and empowerment was organized. The Club invited two highly influential guest speakers Ms. Estelle Akofio-Sowah (Country Manager of CSquared Ghana) and Dr. Victoria Kwakwa (World Bank Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific) to shed more light on the topic.

In her address, Ms. Estelle Akofio-Sowah acknowledged the presence of Ms. Tagoe and Mr. Brown who both taught her as a student at GIS and thanked them for their hard work. She urged students to apply self and heart to whatever they do in life. She explained that empowerment always involves a ‘process’ of becoming stronger and more confident in gaining freedom.She inspired students to recognize that they are already empowered to achieve greatness. She also highlighted on the importance of effective communication, support for each other, student independence and constant practice towards future aspirations.

Dr. Victoria Kwakwa also took her turn to address students. She was honored to have been invited. Her wealth of experience at the World Bank came to bare when she encouraged Students to aim at being the best in all their endeavours. She advised them to embrace responsibilities, target leadership roles and always endear to make an impact in the community and the world at large. Dr. Kwakwa touched on the importance of dedication and passion in any desired future profession. In her closing remarks she said both men and women play a significant role in closing the gender gap.

Principal of the School Dr. Mary Ashun reiterated the issues highlighted by the Speakers. She thanked them for their participation in Empowering Women and congratulated the Students for a showing a lot of enthusiasm during the celebration. Some students took turns to put up a series of motivational and informative presentations on gender equality and empowerment.

The event also saw a bake sale at lunch time by students and ended with a friendly football match against Nima Cluster of Schools. At GIS, one of our many strategic goals is to encourage students’ participation in the community through service hence, all proceeds from the day’s event will be donated to the Nima Cluster of Schools.

To the Empowerment Club, we say a job well done and best wishes as you continue to inspire each other and others to achieve greatness.