Blessilla is a development specialist and youth advocate dedicated to advancing the rights and well-being of young people, particularly adolescent girls and young women in Ghana and beyond.
Read more about her incredible story below:
Growing up in Northern Ghana, Blessilla Na-afoe Kandoh knew firsthand the barriers that young girls often face. Limited access to information, societal expectations, and cultural norms often shaped what was possible for girls in her community. .
Blessilla’s journey into advocacy began with a simple observation: girls in her community were full of potential but often faced multiple barriers and lacked the support and resources to thrive. Inspired by this, she committed herself to creating environments where young people can grow without fear of judgment or limitation. The path has not been without challenges; working with limited resources in communities where basic services were scarce, confronting cultural resistance to girls’ education, SRHR and leadership, and navigating policy gaps that often silenced young voices. Yet, through persistence and collaboration, she has continued to push these boundaries and open doors for others. A strong voice for young people, Blessilla has shaped advocacy efforts at both national and global levels, including contributions to successful campaigns to remove taxes on sanitary pads in Ghana and United Nations processes such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), where her work influenced recommendations on reproductive health education, gender-based violence, and child marriage. She has also spearheaded landmark platforms and supported the establishment of youth organizations that continue to empower hundreds of young leaders across Ghana.
More on Her Academic and Professional Achievements
Academically, she holds a Master’s degree in Development Management from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Bachelor’s degree in Community Nutrition from the University for Development Studies. In 2024, she was selected as a Mandela Washington Fellow under the U.S. Department of State’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), where she undertook advanced training in Civic Engagement and Servant Leadership in the United States.
Beyond her professional work, Blessilla mentors’ young people across Ghana and beyond. Grounded in the values of Ubuntu and empathy, she is dedicated to creating safe spaces for adolescent girls and young women to access mentorship, health information, and life skills. Her leadership continues to inspire young women to challenge harmful barriers, embrace leadership, and reach their full potential. For Blessilla, meaningful change starts with empathy and community empowerment. Having faced some of these barriers herself, she understands their weight, and this is why she works tirelessly to create the pathways and safe spaces she once needed. Today, she has helped hundreds of girls navigate challenges she once faced, proving that with courage, support, and opportunity, young women can transform not only their lives but also their communities.
Connect to Blessilla here, LinkedIn, Facebook
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