Benjamin Awah
Positive Youth Development
Tamale,NP
Summary
More than a decade of successful professional experience in social and community development interventions focused on Inclusive and Equitable Education, Positive Youth Development, Human Rights and Child Protection. Passionate advocate for learning opportunities for all especially children and youth leading to the acquisition of relevant skills for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. Enjoys taking on new challenges. Detail-oriented but retains a vivid sense of the big picture. Disciplined, resilient, creative and critical thinker seeking further growth that offers opportunity for career advancement and well-rounded professional development contributing to the global development agenda of ensuring inclusive and equitable community and human capital development.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Youth Development Coordinator
SOS Children's Village Ghana
10.2022 - Current
- Responsible for supporting 875 youth and community level stakeholders by implementing individual, group-focused and community-based interventions that contributed to self-reliance and independence
- Coordinated planning and innovative implementation of all quarterly school and community-based activities
- End-to-end program management: plan, monitor and implemented projects ensuring excellent delivery within budget
- Successfully developed and coordinated capacity building, contributing to improved self-awareness and mastery for 875 youth, staff and community level stakeholders.
- Participated in writing winning proposal to support the implementation of community-based development interventions
- Strengthened partnerships with appropriate state institution officials, CSOs and other stakeholders leading to continuous active participation in youth-focused interventions
- Participated in key programs at regional, national and district levels to provide technical and experience sharing on youth focused research and review.
- Shared lessons learned and best practices with stakeholders leading to evidence-based planning and decision making
Project Coordinator
International Needs Ghana
01.2021 - 09.2022
- Coordinated school and community-based interventions that contributed to inclusive, equitable, holistic education and development of 5575 learners in 16 schools in 6 regions of Ghana
- Coordinated planning and applied innovative execution approaches to all quarterly school and community-based activities leading to improved school learning and teaching environment and outcome of students
- Successfully collaborated with internal and external stakeholders which engendered community ownership and sustainability
- Worked with the Project Management Office to determine the project's staff development needs, developed and coordinated training programs
- Participated in key programs at the international, national and district levels to provide technical support to program review in education and youth development issues.
- Created stakeholder groups and strengthened community child protection committees, child rights' clubs, safe spaces, state agencies resulting in improved child participation and protection
- End to end program management ensuring timely and successful implementation of project deliverables
- Shared lessons learned and best practices with stakeholders leading to evidence-based planning and decision making
Project Coordinator
International Needs Ghana
03.2020 - 12.2020
- Implemented community-based reading clinic intervention that contributed to improved and sustained interest of 1750 learners (in 12 communities in 3 regions) in reading and education during the protracted closure of schools as a result of COVID-19.
- Coordinated planning and innovative execution of all community-based activities leading to enhanced reading, writing and reasoning skills of participants
- Successfully established and collaborated relevant stakeholders to monitor and support achievement of project requirements
- Collaborated with relevant education stakeholders to organize capacity building program for reading mentors contributing to effective management of clinic activities
- Shared lessons learned and best practices with stakeholders leading to evidence-based planning and decision making.
- Identified and addressed program-related issues by implementing effective risk management strategies to mitigate potential challenges.
Program Officer
International Needs Ghana
01.2019 - 04.2020
- Successful implemented school and community development interventions that contribute to the holistic development of 5,557 children in over 10 districts across 3 regions by ensuring children have access to quality, inclusive and equitable education
- Developed and successfully implemented learning improvement programs for 650 final year students in JHS and SHS contributing to improved learning outcomes
- Developed the capacity of 259 school and community-based volunteers on effective community mobilization, facilitation, and positive discipline approaches
- Led the development of age appropriate messages on child/adolescent protection issues with emphasis on education and development
- Effectively managed educational stakeholder at the international, national, regional and district directorates
- Estimate project budgets and write necessary documentation for approval
- Create stakeholder groups and lead 'training-of-trainers' sessions with school and community child protection committees, child rights' clubs, safe spaces
- Successfully led resource mobilization campaign
- Write winning proposals to support implementation of gender programs
- Shared lessons learned and best practices with stakeholders leading to evidence-based planning and decision making.
Learning Improvement Officer
Walter Aboagye Pimpong Education Foundation (WAPEF)
01.2018 - 05.2019
- I coordinated teams that developed and facilitated academic improvement programs for JHS students contributing to improved learning outcomes throughout their transition stages
- 987 JHS students in 10 schools equipped with requisite learning approaches contributing to enhanced positive learning experience and outcomes
- 374 JHS 3 below above students in 10 schools improved as a result of the targeted interventions
- Worked closely with 1250 parents, heads and community level structure to develop and apply positive parenting to enhance student education and learning
- Shared lessons learned and best practices with stakeholders leading to evidence-based planning and decision making
Client Partner
LeadAfrique International
09.2015 - 11.2017
- Assisted in the cultivation of innovative and responsive students in 15 schools and communities across 3 regions through co-curricular and curricular activities based on the African Leadership Toolkits (ALT)
- Children and young people exhibited personal and responsive leadership
- Led teams that developed topics of the 'awareness' module of the African Leadership Toolkit (ALT)
- Built the capacity of 155 Certified School Facilitators (CSF) in effective facilitation skills and selected modules of ALT
- Built and maintained mutually beneficial relationship with school level, community-based and state level structures
- Shared lessons learned and best practices with stakeholders leading to evidence-based planning and decision making
Youth Development Coach
Brace Consult
01.2010 - Current
- Using experiential learning approaches, I coordinate volunteer teams who have assisted over 1,050 young people to discover themselves and subsequently help them create a winning plan for their lives in more than 20 communities across districts in Greater Accra, Eastern, and Bono East and Volta regions of Ghana
- Successfully empowered over 1,000 adolescents to develop self-mastery skills through self-discovery tools and resources
- 1,000 participants developed workable 5-year personal development plan which serves as a road map for their lives
- Contributed to the reduction of Child Protection concerns among direct and indirect participants in 20 communities
- 75% of coached youth improved their grades by an average of 25% contributing to enhanced their self-esteem and future educational opportunities
- Enhanced Socio-Emotional Skills of over 750 participants in 20 schools and communities resulting in participants foster supportive community and healthier relationships.
- 90% of participants became proficient in at least one application in the Microsoft suite opening them to new career path and improved their digital literacy and future job market.
- 80% of youth engaged demonstrated improved financial literacy and time management enabling them to make informed decision and manage their lives more effectively.
Education
Bachelor of Art - Psychology & Philosophy
University of Ghana
12.2014
Certificate - Introduction to Ethical Hacking
Cisco Networking Academy
12.2024
Certificate - Network Basics
Cisco Networking Academy
11.2024
Certificate - Cyber Threat Management
Cisco Networking Academy
10.2024
Certificate - Introduction to Cyber Security
Cisco Networking Academy
09.2024
Certificate - Data Analytics Essentials
Cisco Networking Academy
08.2024
Certificate - Introduction to Data Science
Cisco Networking Academy
07.2024
Certificate - Introduction to Hardware
Cisco Networking Academy
06.2024
Skills
- Stakeholder management
- Strategic Communication & Planning
- Capacity building and mentorship
- Risk Management
- Creativity and Personal Development
- Operational leadership
- Proficient Knowledge in Microsoft office and Program Management Tools and Procedures
Implemented Projects
- Digital Village Program, SOS Netherland, 1250 child and young people in 8 communities in Northern Region, 2023-02-01, Present
- International Needs Child/Group Assistance Program, International Needs Network, in 3 region, in 10 districts and 35 communities in Ghana, 2019-08-01, 2022-09-01
- Community Empowerment Project for mainstreaming Child Labour Free Zones through School Management Committees (CEPSMC), JICA, 16 schools in 2 Circuit in Upper Manya Krobo., 2021-11-01, 2022-06-01
- Safe and Protective Environment for Adolescent Development (SPREAD) project, UNICEF, in 3 regions, 11 districts and 55 communities in Ghana, 2019-09-01, 2021-01-01
- Reading for Transformation Program, International Needs US, 20 community (North, South and Central Tongu, Upper East Regions), 2020-03-01, 2020-12-01
Trainings Facilitated
- L&D Trainings for 83 care professionals to enhance their competencies to provide quality and protection for children and young people
- Training 155 teachers and heads of 15 selected basic school in the Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Upper East regions on Positive Discipline Approaches
- Capacity building training for 65 early childhood educators on Effective Classroom Management Techniques
- Workshop for 66 community level school management, district and circuit level stakeholders on child labor, school leadership and development and resource mobilization
- Training of Community facilitators on ASRHR, MHM, SGBV, group dynamics among other
- Training Community Child Protection Committees (CCPCs) in more than 35 communities in the Volta, Greater and Central regions in Ghana on various child protection issues including child abuse, child trafficking and child rights using communication for development (C4D) tools to advocate for child rights and other child protection violations at the community level
- Training children (boys and girls) in more than 10 schools/communities in the Volta and Greater Accra regions in Ghana on various child protection violations Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRH&R), advocacy and reporting procedures to prevent and respond to abuse
- Supervisor of safe spaces to empower children especially marginalized adolescent in rural and urban areas through social and economic programs to reach their maximum potential
Continuous Professional Training
- Result Based Management
- Trainer of Trainers in Trauma Informed Care in Alternative Care
- Learning and Development Trainer for Child and Youth Care Practitioners
- Talent and Leadership Development Program (TLDP) - Personal Leadership and effectiveness, technical competencies, Managerial and Leadership competencies
- Engagement with boys and men
- Training on adolescent protection facilitation toolkits to engage adolescents
- Counselling of traumatized children
- Training on community child protection facilitation toolkits to engage children, family and communities
Workshops Training Attended
- Youth Empowerment Program Research Review, 2023-11-01, 2024-06-01
- Participant in Learning and Development for Child and Youth Care Practitioners, 2023-04-01, 2024-08-01
- Participant in Trauma Informed Care in Alternative Care, 2023-08-01
- Participant in Gender Mainstreaming and Sensitivity Training, 2023-01-01
- Participant in Essential Packages on Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, 2021-06-01, 2022-06-01
- Participant in Project Management Training, 2020-02-01, 2020-06-01, 2021-02-01, 2021-06-01, 2023-02-01
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeGig WorkWork Location
On-SiteRemoteHybridImportant To Me
Career advancementWork-life balanceFlexible work hoursPersonal development programsWork from home optionTeam Building / Company RetreatsLanguages
English
Advanced (C1)
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Interests
Youth Empowerment and Development
Personal Development
Quote
Aspire to work with young people to transform their lives and their community
Benjamin Awah
Software
MS Office Suite
Timeline
Youth Development Coordinator
SOS Children's Village Ghana
10.2022 - Current
Project Coordinator
International Needs Ghana
01.2021 - 09.2022
Project Coordinator
International Needs Ghana
03.2020 - 12.2020
Program Officer
International Needs Ghana
01.2019 - 04.2020
Learning Improvement Officer
Walter Aboagye Pimpong Education Foundation (WAPEF)
01.2018 - 05.2019
Client Partner
LeadAfrique International
09.2015 - 11.2017
Youth Development Coach
Brace Consult
01.2010 - Current
Bachelor of Art - Psychology & Philosophy
University of Ghana
Certificate - Introduction to Ethical Hacking
Cisco Networking Academy
Certificate - Network Basics
Cisco Networking Academy
Certificate - Cyber Threat Management
Cisco Networking Academy
Certificate - Introduction to Cyber Security
Cisco Networking Academy
Certificate - Data Analytics Essentials
Cisco Networking Academy
Certificate - Introduction to Data Science
Cisco Networking Academy
Certificate - Introduction to Hardware
Cisco Networking Academy
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