Compassion International Ghana graduates 250 youth, urges them to become agents of change

Compassion International Ghana (CIGH), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to child and youth development, has celebrated 250 graduates at its Alumni Graduation Ceremony held at the Mount Zion Methodist Church in Sakumono.

The event brought together graduates, sponsors, church partners, community leaders and supporters to honour young people whose lives have been transformed through years of holistic support, mentorship and educational opportunities under the organisation’s programme.

Addressing the graduates, the Senior Manager for Partnership at Compassion International Ghana, Mr. Edward Kwesi Nyamekye, urged them to apply the knowledge, values and skills they had acquired through the programme and become positive change agents in their communities.

“They have graduated out of the programme. My advice for them is that they have learnt so many things, and all the participants have received knowledge about how to take care of themselves and have also acquired skills through education,” he said.

Mr. Nyamekye noted that several beneficiaries had progressed to tertiary institutions and technical training programmes, equipping them with valuable skills for the future.

“We expect that they go out there and use these skills very well for their own benefit and also the development of their family,” he added.

He further encouraged the graduates to uphold good values, avoid deviant behaviour and contribute meaningfully to national development.

“Our aim is that as they go out there they will become transformative agents wherever they find themselves. They should abstain from all manner of evil in society and help raise our nation Ghana to become a better place,” he stated.

The Special Guest of Honour, King Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Council and President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, commended Compassion International Ghana for its commitment to empowering vulnerable children and youth.

He praised the organisation’s efforts in creating opportunities for young people to overcome challenges and reach their full potential, while encouraging the graduates to use their experiences and skills to make meaningful contributions to society.

As part of the ceremony, each graduate received a certificate in recognition of successfully completing the programme.

Some beneficiaries also shared inspiring testimonies about the impact Compassion International Ghana has had on their lives.

Doris Confidence, a beneficiary from The Lord’s Pentecostal Church International, described the organisation as a lifeline that transformed her educational journey.

“Compassion has been more like a lifeline for me. It changed the narrative. I didn’t know I could get the opportunity to go to school completely, but Compassion changed the narrative,” she said.

Another graduate, Daniel Zormelo, also from The Lord’s Pentecostal Church International, recounted how the programme helped him overcome a hearing challenge and discover his potential.

“Compassion found me and changed my disability to ability, so now I am into music,” he said, adding that he has also ventured into entrepreneurship and technical work.

Established in 2005, Compassion International Ghana operates as part of Compassion International, a global Christ-centred organisation working in 29 countries worldwide. Through partnerships with more than 450 Frontline Church Partners across 13 regions of Ghana, the organisation currently supports over 100,000 registered children and youth.

CIGH aims to expand its impact further by reaching 150,000 children and youth living in vulnerable communities across Ghana by 2030.

The graduation ceremony marked the successful completion of the programme for the beneficiaries and served as a celebration of resilience, achievement and hope for a brighter future.