Lois
What does life as a woman or girl look like in your part of the world? What roles do women play in your society?
Narrowing it down to my culture, back in my hometown of Jilig in the North East of Ghana, women are predominantly groomed to take the back seat. It is unfortunate; however, it is the sad truth!
Women do play an important role during marriage ceremonies. These roles are; however, played in the secret of a room behind closed doors. Women in my culture are expected basically to grow up, marry, and bear children. Education and economic value are secondary, though many families seem to be pushing for that in recent times.
In recent times, these attitudes seem to be changing only because of the increase of girl child education. Many females have had the opportunity to travel into other communities on the ticket of education. They, as a result, have seen and experienced other cultures where women have a louder voice than what they know back home.
What do you think is the most significant barrier to women empowerment and/or gender equality today?
The cultural setting of Africa and its countries is the most significant barrier to women empowerment and/or gender equality.
I do not mean that culture should be entirely ignored and rights alone allowed to play, but most cultures in Africa suppress the opinions and expression of women in general. Women living in deplorable communities in African countries suffer this form of oppression. The requirement and need for women to be subjected to a submissive position has tamed women. In my culture for example, poor and aged women are likely to be tagged as witches, and one thing that I have personally observed is that the rich and aged women in my culture never fall victim to this accusation. In my own opinion, the cultural setting has an intimidating influence on women. This has unfortunately refused women of their freedom to economic gain and independence.
Alright, now tell us all about yourself. Who are YOU & what should the world know about you?
My name is Lois Yennuman Yowsah. I come from Jilig in Ghana. I am an advocate for women and children’s rights. Through my The Relevant Woman Talk Show (on YouTube), I compel women to rise up and stand tall by arming themselves with every bit of relevant information that they need to know and have as women.
I run an NGO, Adolescent Change For Development - Ghana, which focuses on grooming adolescents on personal development, sexual and health rights, as well as on laws and policies to foster a smooth transition into adulthood.
I also run The Khadija Project, through which I provide free health insurance registration for children in Ghana; and the My Pad My Peace Project, through which I solicit pads for adolescent rural girls in the North East Region.
Describe yourself in one word: "I am... RELEVANT!
What are you most passionate about and what are you doing with that passion?
I am most passionate about having a loud and audible voice and a listening ear. With my loud audible voice, I speak about the plight of women and girls. With my ears, I listen, and speak again with my voice for encouragement, building up, and solutions. It is a cycle that never ends.
What are some of the most notable events (milestones) that have happened in your life to date?
After producing The Relevant Woman Talk Show on YouTube, I felt the inclination to give back to the same society that takes time to watch my show and follow me on social media.
I put together a project which I named The Khadija Project. It was actually inspired my my encounter with a head-porter and her sick child. The aim of the project is the give health insurance to 1 million children in Ghana. Through the show, I was able to put together the first health insurance registration exercise for some 159 children who turned up. It was such a great experience and achievement for me.
I am also very proud of the work I’ve done through the My Pad My Peace Project, which aims to give confidence and dignity to adolescent girls in their periods.
What obstacles have you faced and overcome?
Time and money has always be the challenge. When I shot my first ever episode of The Relevant Woman Talk Show, I used part of my meagre salary to do that. The episode, after going online for just a few hours, needed to be pulled down - very frustrating. It was a huge loss for me. I needed to quickly put myself together to increase productivity, and minimize costs at the same time.
So I cried a little, accepted the loss, and started thinking. I had to upload another episode ASAP. I decided to record multiple interviews in a day! It was stressful at the beginning; however, I got exactly wanted - four interviews recorded in one day, same crew, same budget and even more FUN!
Looking externally into the public sphere, what female public figure inspires you the most to achieve your dreams & why?
Four women inspire me!
One is my late mom, Evelyn Maanyan Yowsah. She passed when she was 32 and I was 10. I carry a lot of her traits of compassion and I am drawn towards her previous work with women and her entrepreneurial skills and passion. She inspires me to be loving and caring.
Two is the late Mrs. Joyce Obeng (Calvary Charismatic Centre). She was involved with an international conference that she organized for Lady Pastors and Pastors' Wives. I always participated by volunteering my services at the conferences. She personally held my hand at one of the conferences and told me, "Do not allow anyone to ever intimidate you. Know that if someone comes to you Lois, it is because you have something that the person wants. Never stoop low". These words have resonated inside of me since then. Therefore, I am never intimidated. By her words, I FEEL SUPER WORTHY.
Three is Her Ladyship Justice Mabel Agyemang. Her strength, grace, and spirituality; getting closer to her, I discovered she has all these beautiful attributes because of the knowledge she has. She inspires me to read wide, including the Bible. With her, knowledge is indeed power.
Finally, the woman - Oprah Winfrey, inspires me. She has used communication to touch lives. People around me say I love to talk and I boldly say YES. I love to talk - about issues that people would otherwise think are too sensitive to talk express or too political or religious to talk about. Yet, these are the very things that shape and affect our daily lives. Anytime, I feel like doing something new, I watch Oprah!
What's your definition of success?
Success is the change of mindset from a deplorable perspective to an assertive perspective of the girls and women I encounter. When girls and women have a change of mind, it reflects through their decisions and choices.
How have the women and girls around you helped you to get to where you are today?
The women around me are amazing!
First of all, I get lots of inspiration from older women that I look up to.
Secondly, I fall on the younger women around me to help keep me grounded. I could not do the works I do, if I did not have the younger women around me helping with housekeeping and babysitting my children. I do well to encourage them too that they will one day be in my position and would need (and have) other younger women helping them out.
Thirdly, I rely on a younger female secretary to personally assist me with administering my works.
Basically, every woman I encounter is of benefit to me. I draw inspiration from them and they give me the opportunities within my networks to be The Relevant Woman that I am.
Complete this sentence: "To be a girl or woman today, is to be..." assertive.
