The Sirigu Women’s Organization for Pottery and Art (SWOPA) a women-led organization in the Upper-East Region of Ghana was part of 19 awardees across the world that successfully graduated from the Carol Bellamy Leadership Award (CBLA). The virtual graduation ceremony held on November 26 was to celebrate the achievements of the CBLA 2024-25 edition awardees, as well as connect the awardees to share lessons and explore collaborations. The Carol Bellamy Leadership Award was launched by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) in 2022 to provide funding to women working at the intersection of women’s leadership and Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) and terrorism. STAR Ghana Foundation, GCERF’s Torchbearer in Ghana led the selection and awarding of the grant of USD 2,000 to SWOPA. STAR-Ghana Foundation also provided technical support to SWOPA on its implementation of activities.

The Executive Director for SWOPA, Bridget Adongo Akasise, sharing her experience as an awardee at the graduation ceremony highlighted how the grant enabled her organization strengthen women’s agency in peacebuilding and preventing violent extremism.

“We were able to bring stakeholders, especially the chiefs, to sensitise them to give opportunity to women to take part in peacebuilding initiatives. We did that with communities that had a conflict, using the women to be able to bridge the conflicts by mediating between to talk to both parties. And it helped in reducing the conflict. We also worked with minority groups like the Fulbe and people who migrated to our area through conflicts, and the nearby communities were close to Burkina Faso, and try to train them on how to get alerts violent extremism and also how to curb it, also gave livelihoods activity to them, like soapmaking and other detergents, so that they will be able to help, especially the Fulbe, who are mainly into the cattle business. Through this, we were able to empower them and now they make some money to support their livelihood activities in their communities. The Executive Director encouraged the partners to continue to empower women worldwide lead peacebuilding initiatives and build resilient communities.

Director for Civilian Crisis Prevention and Stabilisation at the German Federal Foreign Office, Ambassador Anka Felhusen who delivered the keynote address acknowledged the work of the awardees in leading the fight against countering radicalization and extremism through unique community-driven initiatives. She emphasized “Preventing violent extremism is not just about countering ideology. It is foremost about inclusion, dignity and opportunities. When women are part of decision making, when their perspectives shape how communities respond to conflicts, everyone benefits. We have seen this time and again-when women lead; peace lasts longer. Women leadership is not an add on, it is substantial.”

The CBLA is anticipated to re‑open next year, offering renewed opportunities for women led organization advancing P/CVE initiatives.