Five women’s groups, each with more than 10 members from the Yikene community in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region, have been empowered to add value to their basic straw basket weaving and soap making skills.
The initiative, led by Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana (YHFG), aims to boost the entrepreneurial capabilities of these women as part of its broader entrepreneurial and employable skills program.
The women underwent a intensive three-month training and graduated Thursday, July 18, 2024.
They were provided with essential startup logistics to kickstart their businesses.
Abigail Adumolga, the Gender and Child Protection Specialist and the project supervisor at YHFG, addressed the graduates, encouraging them to share their newly acquired skills with their peers in their respective groups.
“We have gone through this vigorous training with you so that you can also train your members at home,” she said.
Mrs. Adumolga explained the rationale behind selecting the Yikene community, noting that many women in the area were not engaged in meaningful income-generating activities and expressed interest in basketry.
She highlighted the foundation’s commitment to giving back to the community, especially since Yikene donated the land on which YHFG is built.
“It’s also part of our corporate social responsibility to give back to society.”
She further revealed that the foundation has extended similar training to 135 women, including 40 women with disabilities, 45 women from the Zongo community, and 100 women from the Yikene community.
The training initiative received funding support from Plan International Ghana through Global Affairs Canada.
The women expressed their joy and gratitude for the training, pledging to utilize their new skills effectively.
The graduation ceremony was attended by the Chief and some elders of Yikene, as well as the Assembly Member, Hon. Francis Akolbilla.
In his address, Akolbilla, on behalf of the Yikene community, thanked YHFG for its impactful work geared toward youth and women empowerment and the provision of a borehole for the community.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com|101.1MHZ|Moses Apiah|Bolgatanga|
