BY: Daniel Orlando | Voltaonlinegh.com |
Node Eight, a digital innovation hub, has launched a project aimed at including young people in local governance in Ho, the capital of the Volta Region.
Christened, “The Young and Safe” project, the initiative is a collaborative effort between Node Eight, the Ho Municipal Assembly, LoveAid Foundation, Ghana Education Service, and is backed by Fondation Botnar through the Healthy Cities for Adolescents Project.
Spanning three years, the initiative targets critical issues such as youth engagement in city governance, sexual and reproductive health, mental well-being support, creative self-expression, and opportunities for digital employment. It seeks to create an inclusive and supportive community for young individuals in the Volta Regional Capital, Ho, by harnessing the strengths of each partner. Additionally, the project intends to enhance the employability of the youth by fostering their competencies in digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
In an interview with Volta Online, on the sidelines of a press engagement on the project, Mr. Courage Asase, the Managing Director of Node Eight, expressed confidence in the project’s ability to profoundly influence the lives of young people in local governance, particularly in terms of city decision-making.
He highlighted that the Regional Capital is evolving into a vibrant city with a burgeoning young population. However, these young individuals face various challenges including mental health, sexual health, safety concerns, and unemployment. Unfortunately, the opportunities for them to participate in city governance are limited, leaving them disconnected from decisions impacting their lives. This gap underscores the importance of “The Young and Safe” project.
Node Eight is a digital innovation company on a mission to cultivate a pool of ethically conscious digital talents and technology-enabled African startups ready for investment. Established in 2017, Node Eight has been active in the Ghanaian startup ecosystem by providing digital skills training, innovation programs, consulting services, community building, and program management. The company has collaborated with significant local and international partners such as GIZ, MEST Africa, Ho Technical University, and UNICEF.
