By Edward Dankwah
Accra, June 12, GNA – The Springboard Road Show Foundation, through its flagship Ghana Grows Programme, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with nine Youth-Led Organisations (YLOs) in Accra.
The MoU is to expand the delivery of practical skills training, entrepreneurship support, and mentoring for young women and persons with disabilities across Ghana under the Empower360 initiative.
The YLOs participating in this collaborative agreement include QET Organic Farms, Ahofade Shoes, Marvin D’autey Tet’d Handmade Shoes, and Habarata Textiles. Others are Charly O, Safe Haven Exclusive Foods, Herb Garden and Didi Dear Artistry.
A statement issued in Accra said these youth-led enterprises would serve as technical training providers and peer mentors to Empower360 participants in sectors such as agriculture, shoemaking, makeup artistry, textile design among others.
Mrs Comfort Ocran, Executive Director of Springboard Road Show Foundation said “This partnership reflects our deep belief in the power of young people to shape the future of work in Ghana.”
She said “By investing in youth-led organisations, we are building capacity at the grassroots level and ensuring that the solutions we deliver are not only relevant but sustainable.”
As part of the agreement, Springboard Road Show Foundation is funding the full cost of training sessions and starter packs for all Empower360 participants.
Additionally, each YLO will deliver hands-on technical training using approved Ghana Grows modules and provide six months of mentoring and business development support to participants.
She said the YLOs would also benefit from funding and guidance to expand their own operations and impact.
Madam Justine Mauda Afia Aniaku, founder of JustMode, speaking on behalf of the YLOs, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to Mastercard Foundation and Springboard Road Show Foundation, saying “this support is a validation that dreams built from struggle can flourish. With this partnership, we would continue to change lives and rewrite futures.”
The signing follows the successful implementation of Empower360 Pilot 3, which saw 30 young women trained in tie and dye, shoemaking, organic fertiliser production, and food processing, with the active involvement of these YLOs as training facilitators.
Previous pilots focused on mushroom farming, makeup artistry, resin crafts, and soap making.
She said through the agreement, YLOs would not only empower others but also build their own capacity in project management, training facilitation, and youth development.
Empower360 is part of the broader Ghana Grows Program, a Mastercard Foundation initiative delivered in partnership with Springboard Road Show Foundation and various technical and community-based organisations.
The programme is active in 48 districts across Ghana, working to inspire and equip young people, especially women and persons with disabilities to pursue fulfilling work in agriculture, agribusiness, and vocational sectors.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade