Stratcomm launches literacy promotion program for children
- BF&T Online
- May 31, 2015
- 3 min read
Strategic Communications Africa Ltd. (Stratcomm Africa) has launched at Komenda in the Central Region, Read It! Write It! Say It! (a literacy promotion programme for children of public schools) and a Social Information Centre (a space for accessing and discussing social development information).
The initiative has been developed to help improve the reading, writing, creative and analytical skills of children at basic education level. It is to help to ensure that children are able to communicate effectively in both their mother-tongue and the English language.
Stratcomm Africa combines innovative marketing communication approaches and social behaviour change communication tools to market sustainable reading and writing skills to children, while promoting the use of these approaches to teachers as well. The project involves working with teachers, parents and children to see the value in building excellent reading and writing skills for development.
Stratcomm Africa is also collaborating with the Komenda Teacher Training College to deliver the project. There are also plans to involve the communication department at the University of Cape Coast.
Mrs. Comfort Akosah Sarpong, Principal of Komenda College of Education who chaired the event, said she is delighted about the initiatives and pleased that Stratcomm Africa is collaborating with her institution. She pledged the college’s commitment to work with Stratcomm Africa to deliver positive results on the initiative.
Reverend Dr. Philip Gborsong, Head of Communications Studies Department, University of Cape Coast who launched the two projects, commended Stratcomm Africa for putting its excellent communication expertise at the community disposal. He said: “It is clear that a lot of innovative thinking has gone into design of the two projects, and this shows the calibre of the organisation”.
He encouraged the community to take full advantage of the initiative’s offerings as they are bound to contribute to the enhancement of individual livelihoods, as well as development of the community and country in general.
Ms. Esther A. N. Cobbah, CEO of Stratcomm Africa and PR Personality of the Year 2013 who explained the rationale behind the two initiatives, said effective communication is critical to every field of human endeavour, and without it the development of humanity is affected. She said in modern life the ability to read and write empowers people and facilitates the development process.
Ms. Cobbah noted, “We at Stratcomm Africa are so passionate about these projects, not only because we are a communications company but also because we believe that literacy contributes to national development. People development is one of Stratcomm Africa’s values.”
Stratcomm Africa began conducting Reading Clinics in Accra at the Kanda Cluster of Schools six years ago as part of its 15thAnniversary Celebration. The Newlife Orphanage in Teshie, Accra, also benefitted from it. Last year, the organisation began the process of introducing Reading Clinics to Komenda in the Central Region as part of its 20th Anniversary Celebration.
The Read It! Write it! Say it! Clinics and the Social Information Centres will be extended to other schools in the Komenda Traditional Area. A community member, Mr. Peter Godfred Anan, said “Many years ago, theStratcomm Africa CEO attended school here in Komenda, just like the children we see here today; and we are happy and proud that today the company that she works for has come here to introduce these initiatives.
We can only be proud of that and support Stratcomm Africa and CEDIC, and pray God’s blessing on the projects”.
The launch was attended by many dignitaries including Members of the Komenda Traditional Council, Municipal Chief Executive of KEEA, Honorable I. K. Sam, Executives of the Komenda Town Development Committee, and representatives from Ghana Education Service among others.
CEDIC, Stratcomm Africa’s Affiliate NGO, is the implementer of the projects.
Source: Thebftonline.com
