“When young people are nurtured well, just like a tree planted and cultivated well, they become leaders and agents of change. Indeed It is the little trees, that make up the Forest”, said Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director when she commissioned the “Orange Loft” an office structure to serve as an incubator to enhance the skills of young people, as well as inspire in them creativity and distinctive ideas to support programme interventions of the Country Office. Dr. Kanem was in Accra, Ghana to participate in a tripartite celebration of ICPD25, UNFPA@50 and the 95th birthday celebrations of a renowned gender and reproductive health advocate, Prof. Fred Sai as well as to open the Third China Africa Conference.
She interacted with the country office’s youth fellows and remarked that for the goals of the SDGs and the ICPD to be achieved it is imperative that young people are given a voice and also that the older generation tap into their skills.
The building which is a contemporary one and beautifully painted, was an abandoned dilapidated store room which has now been turned into an attractive multi-purpose office. It has an audio recording studio, a conference room, a kitchenette, restroom, and a cozy spacious workstation to make working enjoyable and relaxing.
On the walls are a few writings such as “Be Brave, take Risks”, “Believe in yourself" and “Team work”. This is to serve as a reminder to the users to work hard and diligently for the good of Ghana and indeed for humanity.
