On the launch of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), an international advocacy and awareness-raising campaign that runs from 25 November to 10 December, CYIB-CURIOUS MINDS, an NGO that sets the agenda for young people in Ghana organized a poetry soirée to reiterate its call for gender equality, women empowerment and ending gender-based violence in the country.
The event which took place at ZEN Gardens in Accra yesterday saw guests been treated to poetic pieces from seasoned poets. Under the theme ‘MY BODY, MY RIGHTS’ there was a performance from Fatima Majeed (Crafted Tima) who shared a poem on feminism and the women empowerment to Poet Amishadia who shared an amazing piece on the stigma attached to abortion.
The ladies from Ehalakasa Poetry Group: Shika, The Native Girl and The Fanti Girl left guests stunned with their awesome pieces on religious stigma around sex education, infertility and gender-based violence.
Speaking to media after the event, Executive Coordinator of CYIB- Curious Minds, Kingsley Obeng-Kyereh said “We’ve been talking about women for long but there are various way by which we can raise awareness for women issues and tonight was a testament of how issues that society won’t want us to discuss were brought up in artistry manner. Around this time when we’re celebrating 16 days of activism, it is so important that we bring to the fore the issues we’ve been talking about over the years and this was one of the best ways to do that.”
Mr. Obeng-Kyereh also spoke about the CYIB-CURIOUS MINDS CM Policy Program. “We have set up a feminist institute that seeks to bring together young ladies (fellows) from different angles to help encourage other young ladies (feminists) to be doing the right things. When we use the right platforms to send messages to the world, many people would realize that feminism is not a fight against men”
Responding to the question of Ghanaians reactions for feminism advocacy, he explained “Some people have got a hot way in advocating and not everybody will be so happy about that attitude. It is the way we interact and bring other young men to understand the goal and purpose of supporting the woman/girl child that matters most.”
(Source: ameyawdebrah.com)
