Creating Safer Schools for Children and Young People
Preventing School-Related Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Volta Region
At Community Pathway Africa (CPA), we believe that every child and young person has the right to learn in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment, free from sexual harassment, violence, abuse, and discrimination.
In 2024, CPA UK implemented a 6-month School-Related Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Sensitization Project across 10 Junior and Senior High Schools in the Ho Municipality of the Volta region, Ghana. Working in collaboration with the District Education Directorate, school authorities, parents, and community stakeholders, the project sought to increase awareness of SGBV, challenge harmful attitudes, strengthen safeguarding practices, and promote safer learning environments for students.
Our Reach
10 schools reached | 560 direct beneficiaries | Approximately 15,000 people reached indirectly
Students, teachers, school leaders, parents, peers, and community members were engaged through a combination of school and community-based interventions. Activities included interactive SGBV sensitization sessions for students, teacher capacity-building workshops, peer education training, community outreach programmes, and engagement with parents and opinion leaders.
Radio discussions helped extend key messages on child protection, gender equality, and violence prevention to the wider community. Educational materials, including posters and leaflets, were distributed to reinforce learning and sustain awareness. Laptop computers were also donated to support participating schools and strengthen access to educational resources.
What Changed
The project contributed to important changes in knowledge, attitudes, and institutional commitment. Students gained a better understanding of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, consent, personal rights, and appropriate channels for reporting abuse and seeking support.
Teachers and school leaders strengthened their understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities and demonstrated greater commitment to creating safer and more protective learning environments. The programme also strengthened collaboration between schools, parents, community leaders, and other stakeholders, reinforcing the principle that preventing violence against children is a shared responsibility.
By bringing conversations about SGBV into schools and communities, the project helped challenge the silence surrounding sexual harassment and abuse and encouraged greater awareness of the importance of protecting students’ rights, dignity, and well-being.
Through continued partnership with schools, families, communities, and public institutions, Community Pathway Africa is working towards a future where every child can attend school with confidence, learn in safety, and pursue their full potential without fear of violence, harassment, abuse, or discrimination.
