Hair dryers and sewing machines ready for a start-up kit handover

Completed · August 2023 to June 2024

YES Phase I

Youth Employment and Skills Project, Phase I

When: August 2023 to June 2024
Where: 5 communities, West Mamprusi Municipality, North East Region
Funded by: Vibrant Village Foundation
Budget: USD 10,000

The problem

Youth unemployment, limited access to finance and too few resources to start a business were driving young people from five communities in West Mamprusi to migrate.

Many had completed apprenticeships in weaving, sewing and hairdressing but could not afford the equipment to put their skills to work.

What we did

Mobilised 270 young people into groups and assessed their skills.
Trained 150 young people in group dynamics, leadership, advocacy and lobbying.
Gave 29 young women start-up equipment: sewing machines, hair dryers, washing sinks, and weaving machines and thread. Their relatives attended the handover as witnesses.
Opened discussions with financial institutions so the groups could access savings and loan products.

Results

young people mobilised into groups270 young people mobilised into groups

trained in group dynamics, leadership and advocacy150 trained in group dynamics, leadership and advocacy

young women given start-up equipment29 young women given start-up equipment

communities5 communities

What changed

For young women

29 young women became self-employed, with active businesses.

For youth groups

Improved leadership skills, with group leaders sharing what they learned with their groups.

Photos from YES Phase I

Participants with the West Mamprusi Municipal Coordinating Director at the YES Project launch — Launch of the YES Project in Walewale, September 2023.

Young people in Sandanfong register for support — Registering young people in Sandanfong.

Participants from different communities get to know each other at the group dynamics training — Group dynamics training.

Weaving frames and washing sinks laid out before a handover — Weaving frames and washing sinks before the handover.

A young woman from Kata-Banawa receives her sewing machine, with her father as witness — A beneficiary from Kata-Banawa receives her sewing machine, with her father as witness.

Issahaku Zalia at her sewing machine, with a RAG officer looking on — Issahaku Zalia at her sewing machine.

Sadia shows smocks made from cloth she wove, with RAG's Executive Director — Sadia with smocks made from cloth she wove.

Hamdia Mahami's salon in Sayoo, with a client under the dryer — Hamdia Mahami, hairdresser, Sayoo.

Rabiatu at the sewing machine she received, in her shop in Sandanfong — Rabiatu, tailor, Sandanfong.

BRIDGE II is running now

Helping 150 young people, 28 Gender Model Families and 5 savings groups earn more, save more and make decisions together, building on what YES and BRIDGE I achieved.

Support BRIDGE II About BRIDGE II

More projects

All projects

Women and men seated in a large circle at a community session in West Mamprusi

Running now · July 2026 to June 2027

BRIDGE II

Helping 150 young people, 28 Gender Model Families and 5 savings groups earn more, save more and make decisions together, building on what YES and BRIDGE I achieved.

A young woman receives a boxed sewing machine at the handover

July 2025 to June 2026

BRIDGE I

13 young people set up in business, 28 Gender Model Families, and savings groups that saved GHS 67,180.

August 2024 to June 2025

YES Phase II

57 young people trained in business and money management, 29 given start-up equipment, and five new savings groups.