The World University Service of Canada (WUSC), a non-governmental organization (NGO), has received a CAN$8.5 million grant from Global Affairs Canada to carry out a five-year initiative that would benefit 5,000 young women in Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Accra.
The initiative, dubbed Innovation in Non-Traditional Vocational Education and Skills Training (INVEST), aims to create sustainable paths for 5,000 underprivileged young women in Ghana, as well as improve their economic empowerment, quality of life, and social progress.
Ms. Appiah Boakye, Director of the project, said WUSC was enthusiastic about the potential that the INVEST project presents to enhance and link Technical and Vocational Education and Training system actors on both the supply and demand sides of the labor force during a seminar in Accra.
Global Affairs Canada, a department of the Government of Canada (GoC) responsible for managing Canada’s diplomatic and consular relations, encouraging Canadian international trade, and leading Canada’s international development and humanitarian assistance, made the funds available in April of this year.
Through a three-pronged multi-dimensional strategy, the objective is to empower women with long-term skills, remove gender-specific hurdles, and enhance women’s contributions to Ghana’s economic growth.
It aims to enhance current apprenticeship programs while also increasing possibilities for young girls to participate in official and informal apprenticeship programs through institutions and the private sector.
This will also persuade the private sector to assist young women’s admission into the industry, as well as education and sensitization at the community, industrial, organizational, and national levels about women’s inclusion in male-dominated market sectors.
“It will establish a business case for employers in the industry to hire, retain and promote women in the workforce, as well as co-organized business competitions with industry partners to encourage women to start-up or scale businesses, women will be able to secure better opportunities and create an empowered life for themselves,” she added
The Director of the project added that was handled comprehensively in terms of how the community, industry, and training providers should promote and nurture women to pursue lucrative skilled jobs that would contribute to increased economic success for young women and the country as a whole.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Ben-Dave A. Nana Osei-Bonsu
