Nneka aims to nurture, empower young minds for community development – CEO

Mrs Cecilia Fiaka, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nneka Foundation, a non-profit youth empowerment organisation, says the Foundation aims to nurture and empower young minds to ensure the development of their communities.'We aim to nurture and empower young minds to take responsibility for their community's development and educate them about policy formulation and integrity.'Mrs Fiaka interacting with the Ghana News Agency at the end of the Nneka World Changers Camp 2024, said the programme was a resounding success.She said for over two weeks, young participants from 14 districts in the Oti and Volta regions were equipped with invaluable skills in leadership, tolerance, mental and reproductive health awareness.Mrs Fiaka said they were also equipped in time management, growth mindset, personal hygiene and various vocational skills such as bead production, designing, arts, performing arts and cassava flour production.She said the programme emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship, revitalizi ng the Nneka Youth Parliament project and providing a platform for youth engagement and discussions on education, economics, policies and other relevant topics.Mrs Fiaka said the participants were carefully selected to represent their districts and were encouraged to advocate for the development of their communities, schools, and districts. 'Additionally, the programme helped students to enhance their public speaking and communication skills through mock practice sessions.'Mrs Fiaka urged the beneficiaries to propose solutions to address the challenges facing their communities.Certificates were awarded to members as ambassadors while plans were made for the certification of Youth Parliamentary members to be presented at the district level.Mrs Fiaka noted that 84 students were carefully selected from 13 districts to participate in the Parliamentary programme, adding that 'our goal is to reach all the districts where the organisation operates alongside the four regions with the project'.She said the P rogramme would also nurture skills and inspire participants to pursue entrepreneurship.'The success of the programme was attributed to the unwavering commitment of the management, coaches, volunteers, and students'.Mrs Fiaka expressed gratitude to the organisations and individuals for their invaluable support among them; the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Oti Region, MiniPlast Ltd, DAILY FOODS, The National Association of Public Health Students Accra, WILMAR AFRICA, MARIE STOPES, DRIVE TO INSPIRE, PALACE PHARMACY.She called for collaboration and support as they strive to impact the lives of young leaders, changing one African child at a time.Some participants expressed gratitude to the Foundation for the positive impacts made in their lives.Source: Ghana News Agency