Step Publishers, a leading publishing company in Ghana, has marked this year’s International Day of the Girl Child with 6,000 girls in Yilo Krobo, in the Eastern Region. The firm collaborated with an NGO, Inspire Today, to support the over 6,000 school girls with reading materials.
Step Publishers is a firm that is poised in the production of supplementary readers, which seeks to empower people to love reading and be transformed by the messages they publish.
Head of Publications at Step Publishers, Sam Nyarko Mensah, says the partnership with Inspire Today allows the firm to reach out to girls in deprived communities with books.
“We joined Inspire Today to donate these reading materials because we believe reading can expose girls to strong female role models and diverse perspectives, helping them to see possibilities for their own lives. Also, engaging with different narratives encourages analytical skills and critical thinking, allowing girls to better navigate complex issues.
This community has high cases of child marriage, teenage pregnancies, and sexual harassment, and this is largely due to a lack of education. With these books, the girls will be inspired to express themselves and boost their confidence, enabling them to articulate their thoughts and opinions more effectively.”
Executive Director for Inspire Today, Etornam Sey, thanked Step publishers for their timely support.
“Literature often explores emotions and relationships, helping readers understand themselves and others better. Reading broadens horizons, exposing girls to different cultures, histories, and experiences, fostering empathy and understanding. Strong reading skills are foundational for success in school and beyond, enhancing vocabulary and comprehension. We believe these books will be of tremendous help to the girls.”
International Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day declared by the United Nations. The observation supports more opportunities for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based on their gender.
This inequality includes areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence against women and forced child marriage. The celebration of the day also “reflects the successful emergence of girls and young women as a distinct cohort in development policy, programming, campaigning and research.
