By. Colton Hubbard and Elizabeth Patterson
Whenever I travel, I look for examples of positive youth development and ask the question: What are young people doing? On a recent trip to Ghana, this was no different.
What is PYD? Like many acronyms, it makes something simple and straightforward seem complicated. It stands for positive youth development and it means a way of working with, and thinking about, young people with the goal of helping them access the skills, relationships and opportunities that put them in control of their own futures.
While many people in Ghana wouldn’t necessarily call it this, I saw a lot of evidence that PYD is alive and well there. One of the people I met was Elizabeth Patterson, an advocate for people with disabilities, and founder and CEO of the Girls Education Initiative of Ghana.
Here’s a part of my conversation with her.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I’m originally from Ghana, but had left home to go to school. In 2014 after graduating from Wagner School of Public Service, New York University, I went back to Ghana to found a nonprofit organization called The Girls Education Initiative of Ghana, known often as GEIG, with a mission to provide academic and financial support for girls, including applicants with special needs, so they can access higher education and professional opportunities.
Tell me more about GEIG.
Our vision was, and is, that GEIG students and beneficiaries will contribute to Ghana’s development and poverty reduction. My life centers around service. I am a Ghanaian American with academic and professional journeys that intersect at the level of nonprofit management and public service. As GEIG approaches its tenth anniversary, I’m hopeful that through our programs and activities we’ll continue to contribute to raising a generation of public servants committed to the betterment of themselves, families and communities.
How do you think about the role of young Ghanaians in contributing to and shaping Ghana’s development, now and in the future?
By 2030, African youth will be 42% of the global youth population. Ghana currently has 38% of its population being youth (15-35 years old). I share these statistics to highlight the potential Ghana has. From my experience Ghanaian youth are the country’s greatest resource. Since returning to Ghana nearly 10 years ago I see how critical they are to the future of Ghana. I’m now seeing a trend of youth participating more and more across different sectors — from politics to agriculture and technology. Ghanaian youth have been leading the change they want to see, and I’m hopeful that in the years to come Ghanaian youth will positively contribute to the country and continent’s growth.
Do you think PYD is important in this context?
It’s definitely central to the shifts I’ve seen. Gone are the days where youth don’t question the status quo. From the micro levels in our homes and classrooms, to the macro, more society-level changes, youth are being encouraged to use their voice to drive change. When I was growing up in Ghana, youth were not encouraged to use their voices to propel change, as much as they are now. Ghanaian youth are active participants in development more than I’ve ever seen.
One thing we never say about PYD is that it’s easy (“simple” and “easy” not being the same thing). In fact, it’s really hard — it requires us adults to share power, think about things in a new way, challenge our assumptions, take risks and put in the work. The ability and the motivation to do this can be a stretch even in the best of circumstances. But in my view, the payoff — actualized, connected and thriving young people, who are ready to take on the world and its challenges — is well worth it.
Where are you seeing PYD action and are you playing a role in giving space to young people? If you don’t know where to start, reach out to me for resources at [email protected].
