By D.I. Laary
Owene (GAR), Sept. 10, GNA-Huella Research Organization has launched its Sporting Programme to Activate Regular Kinetics (SPARKS), a sports-based empowerment initiative for adolescent girls in Owene, aiming to build leadership, health awareness, and career pathways through active participation.
The programme launch by Huella Research Organization marks a transformative milestone in advancing girls’ empowerment in Owene, an underserved community in the Ablekuma South District of the Greater Accra Region.
Explaining the concept in a statement with the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday, Ms. Vida Akuamoah Boateng, Project Officer, said the programme was a 12-month intervention designed to empower adolescent girls through sports, mentorship, and education.
And that the launch event, held on May 3, 2025, drew support from community members, opinion leaders, and educators.
Ms. Boateng commended the initiative, describing it as “a timely intervention that addresses both the physical and psychological development of girls in marginalized communities.”
“SPARKS is more than just a sports programme,” she said. “It’s a movement that creates safe spaces for girls to thrive, to lead, and to dream beyond their immediate environment. Girls who play, lead; and we are here to nurture that leadership.”
The concept note highlights the transformative power of sports, citing global icons like Serena Williams and Simone Biles, and African stars such as Asisat Oshoala and Ghana’s own Martha Bissah.
“These women show us that sports can be a gateway to confidence, resilience, and global recognition,” Ms. Boateng added.
The programme introduces girls to volleyball and table tennis, with mentorship from female role models. It also integrates reproductive health education, career guidance, and leadership training.
Ms. Boateng emphasized the importance of community involvement, saying; “The smile on the girls’ faces as they picked up rackets and balls for the first time were priceless. It’s a sign that we’re on the right path.”
The initiative is supported by the KGL Foundation, whose funding enabled the project’s rollout.
“Their commitment underscores the importance of investing in community-driven projects that prioritize girls and youth empowerment,” she noted.
SPARKS aligns with Ghana’s National Youth Policy, which advocates inclusive development and increased female participation in sports and leadership.
Huella envisions the programme as a replicable model for other communities.
“SPARKS is not just a 12-month programme,” Ms. Boateng stressed. “It’s a blueprint for lasting change, one that can be scaled across Ghana to ensure every girl has the opportunity to smash, serve, and soar.”
GNA
Edited by D.I. Laary/George-Ramsey Benamba