Young girls have been urged to remain focused as they pursue their dreams and ambitions of becoming responsible and successful adults. Girls are also to be bold and take initiatives that would solve issues in their local communities and benefit all. The girls received the advice at the closing ceremony of the Sisters Keepers Summer Institute and Black Girls in the Lead (BGILD) Excellence Awards in Accra. The mentorship programme was launched by Sisters Keepers, a Global Organisation into mentorship programmes under the #ISEEU Initiative in Ghana in partnership with Integrated Action of Development Initiatives (IADI) and Porducare Touch Life. The Summer Institute mentorship programme, saw 12 girls from Sawla in the Savanna Region and 13 girls from Shama in the Western Region, benefiting from personalised mentorship, workshops, and further training to enhance their leadership and community service capabilities. The programme equipped them with valuable skills and knowledge and also afforded them the oppor tunity to realise their potential and remain focused as they strived for higher levels in life. Ms Violet Esi Pearson, Founder of Sisters Keepers, a US-based Non-Profitable Organisation, said the Organisation aimed at making young girls between the ages of 12 to 18 years globally connected and to engage them in community service. She said: 'We believe there are young girls out there who are interested and committed to do good things in their communities. How do we identify and inspire them, support them and equip them so that they have the skills to really do something for their communities.' Ms Pearson said the Mentorship Programme under the partnership would bring black girls together, saying, 'Wherever there are black girls worldwide, we want to bring them together, create connectivity and linkage to support each other for a common good.' Madam Esther Cobbah, a Communication Specialist and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stratcomm Africa, urged the girls to persevere and not be swayed by challenges th at might come their way when striving to achieve their dreams. She said many successful women in the country had faced several challenges along the line but made it to the top with perseverance and hardwork. Mrs Joana Opare, an International Consultant on Gender and Peace Building. called on the young girls to be humble, steadfast and be truthful in their endeavours. Mrs Opare urged them not to be afraid of failure as it would rather propel into their future to achieve their dreams. She said 'there is the need to know ourselves, know who you are, know what you are there for, move on and not shake by certain circumstances around you in life.' She said though the failures could happen, young girls could be responsible, respectful, remain focused, stronger and not be distracted from what they do. Other Role models and Motivational Speakers who advised the girls included Mrs Comfort Ocran, Executive Director, Springboard Roadshow Foundation, Ms Kathleen Addy, Chairperson, National Commission for Civic Educa tion and Ms Emelia Arthur, also a Motivational Speaker and Politician. Certificates and special awards were presented to the young girls after a week long Mentorship Programme. The event celebrated the exceptional achievements of young leaders with Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards in two age categories: 12-15 years and 16-18 years. N-Yemane Horia Mumuni, who received the Gold awards, said she had been empowered to be bold and focused in pursuing her dreams and was grateful for the opportunity. Source: Ghana News Agency