A new project that will equip scrap dealers, kayayei and other artisanal workers at Agbogbloshie in Accra has been launched with a capacity-building training facilitated by Right To Play.
The project will equip the beneficiaries with relevant skills using sports and other fun and physical activities to communicate to promote peace and bring development in their localities.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), partnered with Right to Play Ghana in implementing the Sport for Development project at the Agbogbloshie Scrapyard.
George Ahiable, the Director of Programmes for Right To Play Ghana told Citi News that the first batch of trainees are expected to go back into their communities to also train others.
“The idea is to mobilize them and empower them to also become mobilizers and champions of peace and also to learn core life skills such as collaboration, team work and divergence, and we are starting this process by giving capacity building training to 50 participants,” he said.
He added that the team will follow up on beneficiaries to assess their efforts in implementing lessons from the training.
“[Besides that] we are going to have other community events organized along thematic areas such as the international commemorative days,” Mr. Ahiable added.
The project, themed, ‘sports for development’ will see the beneficiaries and lead efforts to use sports to address societal and gender issues in their communities.
Through various sessions, the trainees, including sports instructors, coaches and teachers will be taught to use sports as a reformative tool, bringing people together to achieve the desired goals.
“[We are equipping them with] knowledge and skill to drive change in their lives, families and communities. This is a trainer or trainers workshop to go to your communities with the skills and capacities we’ll build in you so that you train other youth and children,” said Illona Wayo, Project Officer at Right To Play Ghana.
Right To Play was established in 2000 by Johann Olav Koss who is now on the Board of the organization he founded now led by Susan McIsaac as the Chief Executive Officer. Right To Play works with schools and community-based organizations, train teachers and coaches in its unique play-based learning methodology.
The organization has been operating in Ghana since 2001.