Accra: The Advocates and Trainers for Children and Women Advancement and Rights (ATCWAR) have admitted approximately 200 youth, primarily women, into a livelihood empowerment initiative. This effort is part of the ACTIVATE program supported by the MasterCard Foundation, aiming to foster growth among participants and promote economic stability and independence.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Executive Director, Madam Beatrice Ekua-Ansah, stated that the participants would undergo a three-week intensive training regimen. This training encompasses skills in soap making, as well as the utilization of local raw materials such as cassava, cocoyam, and potatoes in the production of cakes, bread, and biscuits.
The program also includes instruction on basic entrepreneurship, packaging and marketing strategies, financial literacy, workplace etiquette, and catering skills. The ACTIVATE project is designed to foster harmony between host communities and refugee populations.
Mrs. Ansah-Eshun emphasized that the project serves as a career launchpad rather than mere classroom instruction. The ultimate goal is for participants to secure direct employment or successfully manage their own businesses by the end of the training. She also highlighted the potential of cassava as a versatile raw material beyond its traditional uses, encouraging manufacturers to explore its use in baking.