Muslimah Mentorship Network Holds Maiden Mentors’ Training Programme
Ms. Fouzia Tua Alhassan, an advocate of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (ASRH) has challenged parents to open-up and educate their children about their sexuality and not treat the subject as a taboo.
Ms. Alhassan made this call at the maiden mentors’ training programme organized by the Muslimah Mentorship Network (MMN) at the University of Professional Studies in Accra. The programme trained mentors on Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and best practices needed to guide mentees on their reproductive health.
According to Ms. Alhassan, when parents educate their children on sex and reproductive health, it helps children make informed choices regarding their sexuality. She added that modern day parents must try to break the challenges that come with the generational gap and create a room for friendly conversations with their children.
Speaking on Adolescent reproductive health and rights in Zongo communities, Ms. Nuratu Yussuf, a health worker educated mentors on the importance of focusing on ASRH in the Zongos and why young people must know their reproductive health rights. She indicated that there are various avenues for young people who seek guidance on their reproductive health, including the family planning units of hospitals, the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) and counseling units in schools.
Placing a highlight on rape, consent, and sexuality, Ms. Muslimah …a legal practitioner advised girls to make the police station the first point if they should get sexually assaulted. She emphasized the importance of consent and noted that if a girl below the legal age for sexual consent has sex willingly with an older man, the act is considered illegal.
Mentors were also taken through a session on building trustworthy relationships with mentees. Speaking on the subject, Vera Addo, a coordinator with Moremi Initiative encouraged mentors to consider mentoring as a responsibility and dedicate their time and effort to guide young ones to become better adults. ‘‘Build trust with mentees while encouraging them to be open-minded and build on their strengths,’’ she said.
The training also took mentors through practical exercises to equip them with precise information to adequately guide their mentee on ASRH and sexual consent.
Muslimah Mentorship Network is a network of young Muslim women who mentor girls in Muslim communities to enable them grow to become responsible adults and citizens.
