The Youth Steering Group of the Ghana Science and Tech Explorer Prize (GSTEP) has inducted its ambassadors.
The six appointees are expected to assume leadership roles and assist participating junior high schools in the 2025 GSTEP challenge execute their projects.
Speaking at the induction ceremony held at the DreamOval Foundation Office in Accra, the Executive Director of the foundation, Oforiwaa Asiamah Adjei, highlighted the importance of initiating the ambassadors.
“The YSG programme of the GSTEP is meant to honour young people we have selected who want to give back to the participants. We found these people who are leaders of their communities and are excited to help change and invest in their communities and education,” she said.
She added that the young ambassadors were selected based on their passion, creativity, and community involvement in STEM-related activities.
As part of the foundation’s vision, the nominees will be provided with effective skill training to enhance their leadership and communication potential.
“They have been selected to assist the GSTEP participants in the challenge and also to empower themselves with all the skills and resources they need to become leaders of their communities.
“DreamOval Foundation cares about young people in this country, and so to support these YSG participants, we’re going to help them with masterclasses that focus on communications, event management, logistics, and public speaking.
“In addition to the masterclasses, these participants will also be paired with mentors who will guide them through the process of also serving as ambassadors.”
The YSG programme aims at training young people to be motivators and contribute to change in their communities, serving as a testament to DreamOval Foundation’s commitment to youth leadership in Ghana.
A parent of one of the ambassadors, Abdul-Aziz Quartey Nii Quaye, shared how he encouraged his daughter to sign up for the programme.
“I allowed Halima to participate in this programme because in the past she has had similar training programmes in coding and decoding. I realised that she’s somebody who has an interest in actually building her capacity in the field of education.
“So when she told us about this programme she wanted to apply for, we encouraged her to participate in such a programme to build her knowledge skills,” he said.
Mr Nii Quaye lauded DreamOval Foundation for initiating the YSG programme, adding that it helps to unlock the leadership and STEM potentials of children.
One of the YSG ambassadors, Adelaide Mantebea Mantey, who could hide her emotions, expressed excitement over her nomination to be part of the YSG programme.
“I’ve been able to learn a lot of things. When I signed up for the programme, I didn’t know much about it. I thought we were going to be volunteering for the GSTEP challenge, but I’ve come to realise that there’s so much more than just volunteering; being part of the event includes mentorship sessions and building our communication skills. So, I’m very excited to be part of this opportunity,” she indicated.
As she aspires to be an advocate for STEM, a ‘STEMPreneur,’ and to enlighten people about science and technology, she is ready to be open to learning advanced innovations and improving her communication skills through the training sessions.
The six ambassadors, Enoch Mensah Yeboah, Adelaide Mantebea Mantey, Kekeli Halimatu Sadia Hassan, Margaret, and Sabastus, are expected to assist participating junior high schools within the Greater Accra region in different aspects, including operations and events, communication, monitoring, evaluation, and research, community action, and capacity building.
However, the deadline for the 2024/2025 GSTEP challenge has been extended to November 18, 2024. Junior high schools in the Greater Accra, Eastern, and Ashanti regions are encouraged to apply and participate.
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