LIA Workshop with POPGISS
What an eventful month November has been for us here at RTB!
On 6th November 2021, we had the privilege of delivering a Love In Action 'LIA' Workshop to 120 students at Prince Of Peace Girls Senior High School (POPGISS) in South Suntreso, Kumasi themed; Self-Esteem. We kicked off the day with a basic introduction to self-esteem and rather than talking at our audience, at RTB we like to talk with them. So with this in mind, our interactive style delivery and a terrible habit of putting the spotlight on unsuspecting students to participate was perfect for creating an atmosphere whereby students could showcase their own knowledge. Great insights were shared about what constitutes self-esteem and the traits of high self-esteem in comparison to low self-esteem.
A drama performance of the case scenario, 'Adwoa's Story' by our brilliant actors provided some much-needed entertainment and laughter. More importantly, it brought to life the harsh yet common realities that many Ghanaian young women face within the context of the family which often damages their self-esteem. Through small group discussions, the students were able to take a deep dive into the different factors that influence and shape our judgement of our own worth and importance. They also reflected on the crucial role that self-esteem plays in influencing the choices we make in life, the boundaries we keep (or lack of) in our relationships as well how low self-esteem can increase vulnerability to child sexual exploitation.
The day concluded with a charge to the students; to determine their value and worth according to what the word of God says about who they are, rather than the opinion of people or their circumstances. This was followed by testimonials from three LIA workshop alumni who attended our first retreat in 2016 . As is our custom at RTB, each student who attended the workshop left with a parting gift of feminine hygiene packs including sanitary towels, soap, and deodorant.
So what next?
The success of this workshop has secured us an ongoing partnership with Prince of Peace Girls Senior High School. We are currently in the process of working with the school to set up an LIA club that will facilitate the aftercare of students who attended the workshop. The club is expected to be up and running in early 2022 so watch this space! We have also made a commitment to provide ongoing support to some of the most vulnerable students in the school who are identified to be at risk of sexual exploitation.