Pan-African Organization for Research and Protection of Violence on Women and Children (PAORP-VWC), a non-governmental organisation, has announced plans to train about 200 young single mothers to acquire self-employable skills.

The skills training would be part of PAORP-VWC's two-year "Single Mother" project, with funding support from Plan International Ghana.
It indicated that beneficiaries would be drawn from the Gushegu, Tolon, and Kumbungu Districts of the Northern Region.

Madam Priscilla Yeli-Oni, Gushegu Municipal Officer of PAORP-VWC, announced the plan when she addressed participants at a one-day socio-cultural songs, drama, and dance competition organised by PAORP-VWC at Gushegu.

The event, funded by KiRA, an organisation based in Germany, was to promote peaceful co-existence among residents of neighbouring communities in the Municipality through cultural diversities.

She said the project would target widows and young single mothers between the ages of 17 and 23, and provide them with employable skills in various fields including soap making, weaving, tailoring, and pastries.

She further indicated that it would provide advocacy platforms for these groups to enable them to build self-confidence to participate in making decisions that affected their lives in their communities.

"What we are seeking to achieve is to empower young single mothers who often raise their children without sufficient family and financial support with the needed skills so that they can venture into any business of their choice to help improve on their living standards", she added.

Madam Yeli-Oni highlighted the importance of culture in society, and said: "Culture builds the confidence of people as they aspire to occupy leadership positions, helps them concentrate and develop their language as well as improve their communication and learning skills".

Zaachi Alaru Alabani, Chairman for the occasion, expressed gratitude to the PAORP-VWC for the event and urged participants to actively take part in cultural activities in their communities to uphold their heritage.