Duo Concept Foundation champions literacy and empowerment at GAWBOFEST with Up Girl Project
As part of this year’s Ghana Association of Writers Book Festival (GAWBOFEST), the Duo Concept Foundation organized the Up Girl Project — a literacy and conversation initiative designed to promote and strengthen the culture of reading among young people.
The featured book for the program was Talata, the Child Bride, published by Adwinsa Publications Ghana Limited. The book tackles the pressing issue of child marriage in Ghana, with a strong emphasis on the experiences of the girl child, highlighting both the social consequences and the urgent need for collective action to end the practice.
The Up Girl Project is one of the Foundation’s flagship intervention programs, aimed at empowering the youth to make informed life choices through reading, knowledge-sharing, and mentorship. By combining literature with dialogue, the project creates a platform where young people can engage with critical social issues while being inspired to chart better futures for themselves.
The event attracted notable personalities including the Minister for Employment and Labour, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, Member of Parliament for North Dayi, Jocelyn Quashie, and the Deputy Director of the Parliamentary Broadcasting Department, Peter Azameti Bamfo.
These dignitaries read to the students, shared words of encouragement, and offered insightful perspectives on how education and awareness can help reduce — if not completely eradicate — child marriage in Ghana.
The Duo Concept Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, continues to champion youth empowerment through literary projects, mentorship initiatives, and social engagements. Beyond literacy, the foundation also undertakes philanthropic activities that seek to bridge social gaps and promote inclusion among today’s youth.
On the second day of GAWBOFEST, the literacy campaign was further enriched by the participation of Wing Commander Frederick Bawa (Rtd.), Principal Marshal of Parliament. Joining the Up Girl Project session at the Arts Centre in Accra, he read to participants and mentored them on confidence, public speaking, and overcoming shyness.
He underscored the life-changing potential of the project, noting how it motivates young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to overcome challenges and believe in their potential. He encouraged them to pursue knowledge relentlessly, speak up against abuse, and assert themselves positively in society.
Through initiatives like the Up Girl Project, the Duo Concept Foundation reaffirms its mission to use literature as a tool for social transformation, equipping young people with the confidence, awareness, and values needed to build a more empowered and equitable future.
