WOMEN ACTIVISTS CAUTION STUDENTS (PAGE 29)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

The Kumasi branch of Soroptimist International, an NGO, has called on final-year students at Junior High Schools in the country to refrain from actions that
are likely to jeopardise their academic work and future prospects as they prepare to enter a new stage of life.
According to the NGO, immorality, indiscipline and laziness seem to becoming the hallmark of a section of the youth today, making them neglect their books and indulge in negative practices that eventually cripple their lives.
Soroptimist International is a worldwide organisation of professional women and women in management working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women, children and the deprived in society.
It strives to maintain high ethical standards in business, promote human rights for all people, develop the spirit of friendship and unity among its members across the globe, quicken the spirit of service and human understanding, and contribute more meaningfully to international understanding and universal friendship to enhance peaceful co-existence among mankind.
The organisation, which is open to women who have distinguished themselves in various fields, also strives to support and improve the living conditions of women and children worldwide.
It was formed in 1921 in California and now has over 3000 clubs worldwide in about 120 countries.
Addressing final-year students of Ridge International Junior High School in Kumasi on Tuesday, the President of the Kumasi branch, Mrs Betty Ayeh, urged the students to be respectful, honest law-abiding and concentrate on their academic work, to enable them to realise their dreams of becoming responsible citizens in future.
Speaking on the topic: “Promoting morality and discipline amongst JHS students in the Kumasi metropolis”, Mrs Ayeh said when people respected the rules and regulations governing society, a conducive atmosphere and aura of peace that enhanced socio-economic development was created.
She said poor upbringing of children due to laxity of supervision by parents caused children to live in their own world, where they resort to adventurous activities that eventually led them into trouble.
She pointed out that parents should not only guide their children always in their daily activities, but should also supervise them to ensure that they did the right things, and abided by the rules of law.
“Some children are over-pampered at home, making them enjoy too much freedom, and this eventually affect their lives,” she complained.
She said out of boredom and peer pressure, some of the children also indulged in sex, smoking of cigarettes, and the sniffing of cocaine, which destroyed their lives.
She therefore urged them to plan their lives in a way that would make it possible for them to realise their ambition of becoming responsible citizens in future.
For her part, the past President of the organisation, Mrs Ruth Brenya, said there was always a standard for good behaviour that the youth were supposed to follow.
She said whilst the youth had the liberty to enjoy their youthful days, they should not be tempted to do things that were strictly practised by adults.
“Inappropriate behaviours have bad consequences, so you should always refrain from them,” she advised.