Youth Speak Up is a platform focused on connecting and bringing together the best and brightest breed of young entrepreneurs in Ghana to speak out on socio-economic and developmental issues affecting the country.
The goal is to promote active participation of the youth, particularly those in rural communities through sensitization programs and the use of digital and social media tools. This initiative is led by young entrepreneur and co-founder of Hopin Academy, MacCarthy Lomotey to develop competencies of youth reporters in their various communities.
The project focuses mainly on youth in some four deprived districts of Tamale, Northern Ghana; Kumbungu, Savelugu, Saboba and Karaga. Youth in these areas have little to no access to internet and the world of social media and thus the pool of opportunities it offers. Most of them have no formal education at all, and more often than not find it difficult to express their frustrations and views on matters of development in their communities. The project therefore seeks to bridge this gap between the youth in these areas and their social needs. This will be done through training on how to use various media platforms in new and creative ways to address issues of injustices, advocate for their rights and report on their challenges and frustrations individually or as a community. It is a small step to begin a journey of empowering young people to explore their potential and transform their challenges into opportunities and opportunities into success stories.
To tackle some of the injustices and developmental issues that youth in the north face, the Youth Speak UP project has launched a four month long campaign, starting from 27th August 2016 and ending 26th November 2016 to create awareness and speak out against these issues. The campaign has been dubbed “The Idea Platform” An active group of social entrepreneurs and stakeholders will meet every two weeks from the start date to discuss and brainstorm solutions to selected topics. These topics are selected based on extensive research on matters of interest and concern to the youth in these deprived areas of the north.
Partners in the Youth Speak Up campaign are; Hopin Academy, RUMNET, YEFL and Ghana Friends in Denmark.
Youth Speak Up Idea Platform 