Women manifesting fruits of empowerment programme

Some finished necklace designs

Beneficiaries of the Economic Empowerment Programme for Women, are making gains and improvising new techniques in the designs of the wears they are producing.

A recent visit to some of the beneficiaries, barely two months of graduating from the programme showed that they were making strides by producing nice designs and even exploring to an array of new designs to add to what they have been taught during the programme.

Six of the women were making beads into nice designs, including key holders, bracelets, bleach, and Palazzo as well as how to make key holders, bracelets, necklaces and paper bags among others.

Testimonies

Madam Seyram

Madam Gina Seyram Senanoo, prefect of the group, who resides at Otinibi Aya Court area says “by God’s grace business is going on well. The more you produce the goods, the more you attract customers. So it is my target to produce more of the key holders, the bangles, beads, earrings to showcase.”

“I have produced few pieces of the earrings, key holders and I intend to produce more”. “I sometimes go on the internet on my phone to look at other designs to add to what I have learned”.

“I thank the organisers for providing us with the beads and the materials to work with, and to produce a variety of the necklace I buy some crystals and beads to nice designs”.

Saying the programme was good and beneficial to her, she appealed to the organisers “to continue supporting women to acquire these skills.”

Another graduate, Madam Mary Efe Mensah, who was working on some of the unique patterns before we got there, says “Oh! I don’t know how to say it, but the programme has helped me a lot”.

“After the programme I sat down to rack my brain on bringing out a new design, and came up with these design ‘pattern’ which I join together to make the bags”, she noted.

Madam Efe sharing her experience

Showcasing her distinctive wares, which includes assorted designs of necklaces, bags made from beads, earrings among others.

She says though “I have made some sales and people really liked it, the marketing of the ware is still a challenge” and added she has tried to advertised her wares on social media: “I advertise on Facebook and WhatsApp, which attracts some friends to buy, although it’s difficult convincing friends to buy”. “Marketing the wares is still a challenge, is still a challenge.

“Yes, I have the idea to do something, I was idle, but when I heard about the programme I decided to come and learn more and polish my skills”.

Madam Aboagye receiving some guidance from a staff

Also, Madam Edith Aboagye notes “the programme is a good one and has taught me some skills. I am trying to make some designs”.  But says “I have challenges making time for more designs due to another schedule”. 

The project coordinator and Nurses on the team shared some pieces of advice on how to improve upon her designs and work.

Peer-learning

The women occasionally interact among themselves and share ideas on how to improve on what they have learned. There are occasional visits to other women who graduates, which Madam Gina Senanoo alluded to.

Support from Organisers

After their graduation, the trainers (Public Health Nurses at the St. John of God Clinic, Amrahia, still find time to offer useful technical support to graduates. Madam Edith Aboagye commended her trainers for their readiness to assist them.   

Background

The project, an initiative of the St. Augustine Province of the St. John of God Hospitaller Brothers is to empower women to become self-reliant in taking care of their children and themselves.

The prospects of the programme as manifested by the fruits of the first graduate, is encouraging for organisers who are still preparing to roll out phase two.

Meanwhile, the Financial Controller of the St. Augustine Province, Mr. Valentine K. Bruku, who hinted of a possible replication of the programme in the other seven countries of Africa, where the St. John of God operates, called on donors to support the programme for more women to benefit from it.