Empower 60 Women In Sandals Making In Tamale-Ghana

Reporting Period Overview

The Empower 60 Women in Sandals Making in Tamale-Ghana project continues to address a hard truth: poverty among young women is not just about lack of opportunity, but lack of practical, income-generating skills. This initiative is designed to break that cycle through targeted vocational training and entrepreneurship development.

The project aims to equip 60 vulnerable young women in peri-urban Tamale with hands-on skills in sandals production, complemented by business and financial literacy training to enable sustainable livelihoods.

Activities Implemented

During this reporting period, preparatory and mobilisation activities were prioritised to ensure effective delivery:

• Identification and engagement of vulnerable young women beneficiaries
• Stakeholder consultations with local artisans and trainers
• Curriculum refinement focusing on practical production and entrepreneurship
• Community outreach to raise awareness and encourage participation

These steps are critical in ensuring that training is not theoretical but aligned with real market demands.

Progress and Early Outcomes

While full cohort implementation is ongoing, the project is already establishing a strong foundation:

• Increased interest among young women in vocational skill acquisition
• Strengthened partnerships with local trainers and industry actors
• Improved community awareness on the importance of skills-based empowerment

The model focuses on transitioning beneficiaries from dependency to productivity—an approach proven to deliver long-term impact.

Expected Impact

Upon completion, the project will:

• Train 60 young women in sandals production
• Provide startup toolkits for immediate income generation
• Improve financial independence and reduce vulnerability
• Create a ripple effect of local economic activity

This is not just training—it is economic repositioning.

Challenges

The project faces persistent constraints:

• Limited funding affecting scale and speed of implementation
• Rising cost of materials and training logistics
• High demand exceeding available training slots

These realities highlight the gap between need and available support.

Call to Action

Real impact requires more than applause—it requires investment.

GEM-GHANA calls on donors, corporate partners, and development organisations to support this initiative through funding, technical collaboration, and market linkages.

Because the reality is simple: when women gain skills, communities gain stability. When they remain excluded, poverty deepens.

The choice is not abstract—it is immediate.

Links:

• GEM-GHANA's website