Shenona Foundation Launches in Ghana to Fight Teenage Pregnancy and Empower Young Mothers

A new youth-focused organisation, the Shenona Foundation, has been officially launched to the public with a mission to help prevent teenage pregnancy while empowering young people and supporting young and single mothers.

The foundation was unveiled by its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lady Annie-Ann Dodoo, a youth empowerment advocate who says young people should not be defined by difficult circumstances or mistakes in their past.

Shenona Foundation before it’s official launch has already started work through engagements and outreach programs involving guidance, education and empowerment of young girls to take proper control of their lives.

Tackling teenage pregnancy beyond the statistics

At the heart of the foundation’s work is teenage pregnancy prevention.

For Shenona Foundation, the issue is not simply about figures and reports. Its approach is centred on the young people behind those figures and the challenges that can follow an early pregnancy.

The foundation intends to use education, mentorship, reproductive health awareness and advocacy to help young people make informed decisions about their lives.

Its programmes will also address issues such as mental wellness, self-worth, family planning awareness and healthy decision-making.

The organisation believes that giving young people the right information and guidance can help them better understand the choices available to them and make decisions that protect their future.

Supporting young mothers to rebuild

Shenona Foundation’s work also extends to young and single mothers, with a focus on helping them regain confidence and develop practical skills.

The organisation plans to provide skills training and empowerment opportunities while offering mentorship and other forms of support.

The broader message is that becoming a young mother should not mean the end of a person’s ambitions.

Instead, the foundation wants to create an environment where young mothers can develop their abilities, become economically empowered and work towards building better futures for themselves and their children.

Four programmes will drive the foundation’s work

Shenona Foundation has organised its activities around four flagship programmes: Shenona Choices, Shenona Rise, Shenona Cares and Shenona Connect.

The programmes are designed to cover different aspects of the foundation’s mission, including education, empowerment, support and the creation of opportunities for young people and young mothers.

Its planned activities include school and community outreach, reproductive health education, teenage pregnancy prevention programmes, mentorship and self-worth education.

The foundation will also undertake self-defence training, skills development, family planning awareness, community initiatives and advocacy.

Foundation seeks support from schools and communities

Lady Annie-Ann Dodoo believes the challenges facing young people cannot be addressed by one organisation alone.

Shenona Foundation is therefore seeking to work with schools, families, communities, institutions, businesses, professionals and other organisations to strengthen its programmes.

Such partnerships, according to the foundation’s vision, will help broaden its reach and enable more young people and young mothers to access education, guidance, support and opportunities.

The organisation’s community-based approach is expected to be important in reaching young people who may not otherwise have access to such programmes.

A message of hope and second chances

Beyond its programmes, Shenona Foundation is built around a message of hope.

The organisation believes that young people and young mothers should have the opportunity to look beyond their present circumstances and work towards a different future.

Lady Annie-Ann Dodoo’s own experiences are central to the foundation’s story and its belief that people can overcome challenges and rebuild their lives.

The foundation’s message is summed up in its statement: “You are the hero of your story.”

It is a message aimed not only at young mothers but also at young people who may feel that their past experiences have already determined what lies ahead.

For Shenona Foundation, the goal is to turn that message into practical support through education, mentorship, empowerment, advocacy and community engagement.

As the organisation begins to expand its activities, it is inviting individuals, businesses, institutions and communities to support its efforts to prevent teenage pregnancy and create more opportunities for young people and young mothers.

The foundation’s public launch therefore marks the beginning of a wider campaign built around one central idea: circumstances may shape a person’s journey, but they do not have to determine the rest of their story.