Women Economic Empowerment: Snail Farm in Ghana

Dear all,

 On behalf of Africa Youth for Peace and Development, we want to thank you for your support to our Economic empowerment of rural women: Snail project. With your donations, we were able to do many things that are geared towards realizing the goal of the project below you will see the various activities

We are glad to announce that our snail pen has been constructed and almost finalized. By this time we should have already started the farming and teaching process, but the weather did not allow us to do it. We had heavy rains during the month of May and June so it resulted in a delay in the building process. But never the less we have been able to get 95% of the work done. 

After receiving funds transferred by GlobalGiving, the organization identified a team to embark on the implementation of the activities. This team includes The Executive Director. Philip Salis Bangura, program manager, Nuria Badiella, community Member Fifi and Women member Ekua.

 It was agreed that the materials needed to construct the snail Pen will be purchased at the nearby store, as it will help ease the transportation problem rather than going at a distance to get it cheaper. So most of the construction materials were bought at the K- Fori Building materials in ashongman Accra Ghana.

 A roofing structure that will hang over the snail pen was agreed and was also constructed. The reason for the roofing is that during rains water will not enter into the pen while also during the sunny season too much sun will not enter so it protects the snail pen all year round.

 Among the materials bought where 18 Bags of cement, different types of Iron Rod, Pole for Canopy that will be used for Training of women. Sand and stones.

Activities

• The organization hired the service of (Koma Abraham – welder)  who helped us to construct the structure and create the pen doors. Because of the length of the pen, the initial materials proposed were not enough, so we had to procure more rod and bars to complete. 

• Youth from the community built the cement structure supporting the pen, this took us about 20 days because we had to properly prepare the ground and cement, when all was built and prepared, we were able to place the pen on top with help of at least 15 people because the snail pen was very heavy.

• We placed the metal mesh around the structure and finally, we are about to finalize putting the mosquito net and protecting the pen from the rain with a small canopy.

• The organization constructed a   canopy and paved a placed that will be used to train the women.

•  We procured whiteboard, teaching materials, pen, books etc that will be used during the training.

Nevertheless, we have already few snails, which they breed already and have given us 13 eggs! So not all are bad news! Ekua, one of the participants have been highly involved in the process and has helped us to take care of the few snails we have. 

Our next step

• Start training of women on how to care for the snails, the women will become familiar with snail farming system, and confident enough to take care of them by themselves.
• Sourcing additional funding to struct AYPAD Capable of Holding 6-10 more Pen.
• Plan and work on Marketing Materials for the project( Labeling, packaging)
• Recruiting  60 Additional Women once trained to set up their our snail farm.

• Snail Phase 1 (PDF)