My name is Sarah Bediako, a 19 year-old  from Ningo currently in SHS 2. I joined the Young Leaders Girls Speak club in 2019 when I was a child mother.

I have been part of the club’s activities and currently a facilitator in Ningo. I am an albino and that hindered my ability to socialize as I should. This is because, everywhere I go I am called the “odd one”. People do not associate with me. At a point (during my pregnancy),  even my family treated me poorly.  

The club’s activities have given me the confidence to socialize as well as helped me to speak in public. Being a facilitator, I am able to stand before my peers and even those older to educate them on SRHR during outreaches. The activities, such as “Beyond Inspiration”, have allowed me the platform to learn from and interact with girls from communities across the country.

Since the seniors in my school found out about my child, I have faced unending stigma. The only reason I have not given up is because of the various empowerment programmes I have participated in. It is very difficult, everywhere I go, I have people either looking at me or making vile comments.

After being with the club and being part of different mentorship programmes, I decided to enroll into JHS 3 to write BECE in order to gain admission to senior high school and especially to be able to access Free SHS since I could not afford to pay fees for my secondary education. PAYDP helped me pay my Hostel fees which was a burden to me. 

I am grateful for the support and empowerment gained through the UNFPA/PAYDP programme.