GMA, WiPR Ghana mark International Day of the Girl Child with literacy initiative

Global Media Alliance (GMA) and Women in PR Ghana (WiPR Ghana) have empowered more than 300 girls from Dzorwulu A & B Primary School and Dzorwulu Junior High School through the third edition of their Read4Her Future literacy and mentorship initiative, held to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.

Held under the theme “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” the initiative reaffirmed the organisations’ commitment to promoting girls’ education, advancing their rights and equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to shape their futures.

The 2026 edition combined interactive reading and mentorship sessions with education on adolescent health and personal development, recognising that investing in girls requires attention to their educational, physical and emotional well-being.

Emma Wenani, Chief Director of Global Media Alliance, said Read4Her Future was designed to help girls build confidence, discover their potential, and recognise the opportunities education offers.

“At GMA, we recognise that empowering girls goes beyond giving them access to education. It also means creating opportunities for them to develop confidence, discover their abilities and understand that their dreams are valid and achievable,” she said.

She added that initiatives such as Read4Her Future demonstrate the importance of sustained collaboration between organisations and communities in creating opportunities for young girls to thrive.

President of the Executive Committee of Women in PR Ghana, Mrs Josephine Appiah Nyamekye-Sanny, said the initiative had expanded this year to address both education and health needs.

“This year, we decided to go further and invest in the whole girl: her education and her health,” she said, emphasising that every girl deserved the knowledge and support needed to make informed decisions about her life and body.

The event featured interactive reading and mentoring sessions led by female public relations professionals. The sessions encouraged participants to strengthen their reading skills, expand their vocabulary and build confidence in expressing themselves. Books provided through the Learn to Read Foundation supported the literacy activities.

A key addition to this year’s programme was an adolescent health education session led by Dr Beatrice Dwumfour-Williams, a clinical psychologist and lecturer at the University of Ghana Medical School.

The session covered puberty, menstrual hygiene, mental health, personal boundaries, and bodily autonomy, giving the girls practical information to support their well-being and personal development.

Headteacher of Dzorwulu A & B Primary School, Madam Maimunatu Awudu, thanked the organisers for bringing the initiative to the school.

“We are grateful for this opportunity to encourage our girls to read, believe in themselves and work towards their dreams. The knowledge and guidance they have received will help them make informed decisions about their future,” she said.

The programme concluded with donations of books and educational materials from the Learn to Read Foundation, UBA Foundation and Evelyn Asare, alongside sanitary pads for the girls.

Through the annual initiative, GMA and WiPR Ghana continue to use literacy, mentorship, and personal development education to encourage girls to pursue their ambitions, strengthen their voices, and build the confidence to participate meaningfully in their communities.

Read4Her Future is a literacy and mentorship initiative by Global Media Alliance and Women in PR Ghana that uses reading and mentorship to build girls’ confidence, encourage self-expression and nurture leadership skills.

The initiative forms part of the organisations’ broader commitment to supporting young people and creating opportunities for girls to learn, grow and realise their potential.