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Saviour: Guiding a new generation as a big sister and health expert

Midwife and Learner Guide, Ghana

7 minute read

Being a mentor to others helped me discover my strengths

I was raised by my mother alone until I was three years old. Then my mom got married into a different community, and my stepfather took me gladly as a daughter and raised me up, along with my three siblings. Coming from a large family, things weren’t always easy.

When I started Senior High School, we had to raise not only an admission cost but also regular fees that were out of reach. I learned that there was an organization called CAMFED supporting girls from disadvantaged backgrounds throughout their time in school. When I heard that CAMFED was coming to take on all of that cost for me, I was so excited! I began thinking that my dreams could one day turn into a reality.

After I completed in 2015 I realized that I wanted to give back to my community what I had gained from CAMFED. I joined the CAMFED Association of women leaders educated with CAMFED support and decided to train as a Learner Guide (peer mentor). I found the role so rewarding that I have now served in it twice — reaching hundreds of students inside and outside of the classroom.

Saviour is a role model to me in how she speaks, how she’s able to influence people. She also gives her best to make me feel comfortable. I just love the way she is and I pray that one day I’ll be like her. – Valentina, CAMFED supported secondary student, Ghana

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Becoming a big sister to girls and boys following behind

The students are glad to have Learner Guides, because we are like big sisters to them. Their relationship with a big sister is different compared to that with a teacher. The students feel freer in confiding to you about some of the issues they are facing. They also see you as a role model because they have seen you succeed. 

The way we relate with people in society, and are so much concerned about the lives of other people; that alone tells them, “I can trust in this person.”

Discover more about Learner Guides

Gaining confidence and courage as a leader

The Learner Guide role entails a lot — from delivering My Better World modules to the students (using CAMFED’s life skills and self-development workbook) to guiding them in their academics. When a student has a difficulty in a particular subject area, we are able to help. Recently, during school vacations, I’ve organized extra classes to help Junior High School students with English, mathematics and science.

Being a Learner Guide has been one of the biggest opportunities of my life. As long as I live, there is so much I can do to support myself, people around me and the world as a whole.

Saviour from Ghana as a Learner Guide (peer mentor) in 2017 and 2023

Then and now: I have actively served as a Learner Guide twice, five years apart.

There was an instance where we discovered a girl at risk of early marriage, when her family could see no other way of attempting to relieve their financial hardship. As Learner Guides, we involved the school and together spoke to the girl’s parents. We referred her for CAMFED support as well as stepping in immediately with items that the girl needed to remain in school. I’m glad that she’s doing well and is preparing to write her final year exams.

It feels amazing to have gathered the courage and confidence to speak with authority to other leaders. I’m able to get support from the assemblyman and other people in the community that are willing to help us out.

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Building the tech that helps us keep girls in school

Through CAMFED, I have been involved in the co-creation of a digital platform called the “Learner Guide Hub.” It’s designed to help Learner Guides to come together, share ideas, and build on the program to support students and one another.

At the planning stage, I attended Zoom meetings to offer my ideas on how the Hub can be beneficial to our work. Now, I am among more than 16,000 Learner Guides who already have access to the app. Many more will be joining us over time.

Before the emergence of this mobile app, we used to complete printed forms with questions about which topics the learners most enjoy during sessions, and a monthly report including details of home visits we had made to students and their families. After that we would have to scan and submit via a message, or even take transport to deliver the papers in person.

The Learner Guide Hub means you can sit in the comfort of your home and quickly submit your reports at any time. It is going a long way to help us reduce stress and even cost.

For our sessions we used to carry copies of the My Better World workbook, the Learner Guide companion book and the work-readiness book all together, which was difficult. Now, I simply walk to school and access all the necessary info through the Hub. It’s a great feeling when you can lead your session successfully and smoothly without stress.

Saviour (turquoise top) with other members of the CAMFED sisterhood in  Bongo district, Ghana

Here I am with other girls’ education leaders in the CAMFED sisterhood. [Credit: Chris Loades/Yidan Prize Foundation]

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Realizing my dream of becoming a health professional

After completing my first placement as a Learner Guide, I secured my place at nursing college, having first worked as a radio presenter and a preschool teacher. I loved those jobs but it has always been my dream to be a health professional.

I graduated from nursing college after two years of training, and still needed to wait patiently. Here in Ghana, when you complete training you have to wait for a period of time before you get posted. I took the opportunity further and studied Midwifery at the University for Development Studies. Then, I started my first posting in Talensi-Nabdam District.

I have always been interested in the welfare of women and children. Becoming a midwife helps me contribute to improving it, including by educating mothers about the importance of quality healthcare.

In rural areas a lot of women are not accessing antenatal services and deliver their babies at home, which can lead to complications. It’s fulfilling to be able to guide these women and see them give birth to healthy children.

The area I work in is more or less a village, and some of the girls there do not see a future in education because of the challenges they are facing. It can lead to early pregnancies and young mothers struggling to support their children. I’m very happy that I have been sent to this area because I can speak to young people, help them to change their outlook for the future, and use my example about what is possible through education.

Growing a business to bring stability to my family

Alongside my other commitments, I have managed to build a business where I employ my mother. It’s a food business, where we process flour and cornflour and supply vegetables and other groceries. We also rear a small number of animals. Using the profits I am able to support my younger siblings and family members, as well as others in the wider community.

Saviour (right) a midwife and peer mentor from Ghana, with her mother

This is my mom, Elizabeth, who helps me run my food business. [Credit: Chris Loades/Yidan Prize Foundation]

I’ve engaged in a lot of philanthropic activity with other young women in the CAMFED Association. We identify students who need essential items in order to stay in school. We take the initiative to buy new school uniforms or repair existing ones, for example. Personally, I’ve helped provide exercise books, pens, and other essentials.

It feels good to put smiles on the faces of younger ones through the different ways that we support them.

I think about the way that I interact with another person as though we are two hands coming together. You need the left hand to wash the right hand, and the right hand to wash the left. So it is very important to help one another, because we can all thrive better together.

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