Tema, Nov. 8, MNN – In spite of the power of education to transform lives, unfortunately in Africa and other developing countries there are various obstacles that prevent students from realizing their full potential.
Some of these obstacles include lack of support, absence of career guidance, substance use, and abuse, low self-esteem, and bullying; Mrs Viola Tebah Yanyi-Ampah, Executive Director and Founder, Tebah Educational Initiative Inc, (T.E.I) has revealed.
She, therefore, noted the need for proper mentorship for such groups of people to become effective functional units of society in the future as education has an immense potential to change and save lives.
She noted that TEI has rolled out progressive private sector measures to deal with the problem through a project dubbed, “Building a generation of future leaders through its online educational programmes”.
Mrs Yanyi-Ampah noted that TEI mentors’ students to reach their full potential and as a result has impacted and nurtured about 600 students worldwide on the right path to life through its annual online mentorship programmes.
She said the TEI has directly provided educational supplies and touched the lives of over 8,000 students in the United States, Haiti, Ghana, and South Africa.
“Students who benefit from any of the TEI programmes are likely to become more successful in their professional and personal lives by virtue of learning and mastering concepts,” she said.
She said the initiative helps students develop the right mindset, guide them in setting appropriate future vision and goals, equip them with effective communication, presentation, and public speaking skills, and empower them with leadership characteristics, financial literacy, and social and emotional intelligence learning.
She stressed on the need for students at various levels to take advantage of the online training programmes offered by the organizations to enhance themselves personally and professionally.
“It is for this and other reasons that the Tebah Educational Initiative a not-for-profit organization was established among other things to provide educational supplies to needy students; provide physical and online training and mentorship programmes for students across the globe to nature them to become responsible leaders.
“Since its inception in 2014, the organization has provided educational supplies to needy students in the United States, Haiti, Ghana, and South Africa. Thus, its operational areas,” she said.
She said the initiative would continue to promote educational awareness among students by helping them understand its benefits and to challenge them to strive for excellence.
Mrs Yanyi-Ampah said TEI Mentoring Programme is an annual intensive after-school programme that provides structured year-round after-school and summer services for youth ages 12 to 18.
It has been designed to promote youth excellence, cultivate responsible leaders, and support academic excellence and student engagement in school and community environments.
She identified specific TEI activities as group counselling, life skills coaching, creative arts, field trips, adventure programming, recreation, and mentoring.
Others are TEI LEAD programme which offers Leadership Empowerment and Development, which is also an annual online training programme that gives students the opportunity to serve as officers within the organization.
It provides students with leadership, empowerment, and personal development with focus on developing their skills in public speaking, presentation skills and teamwork.
Mrs Yanyi-Ampah said the TEI Young Professional Group brings together university students and other young professionals in their thirties to harness on their personal and professional development.
It serves as the foundation for professional development, networking, financial management, mentorship, and volunteer opportunities as well as providing a channel by which individuals can harness on their personal and professional development.
