By Emelia B. Addae
Koforidua, Aug 06, GNA – The Dare to Dream initiative, implemented under the Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Programme, has spotlighted youth-driven solutions to community challenges at a grassroots exhibition held in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital.
The programme, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Mastercard Foundation, focuses on empowering persons with disabilities (PWDs) and women in rural communities through innovations in health, education, agriculture, climate resilience, and technology.
Organisers expressed their commitment to identifying and registering 300 youth innovators across the Eastern Region.
Ms. Hannatu Kobiah, Programme Manager of Dare to Dream, said the YAI Programme focuses on empowering persons with disabilities (PWDs), and women in rural communities in key areas such as health, education, agriculture, climate resilience, and technology.
She was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the Grassroot Exhibition for Innovators in Eastern Region held at Koforidua.
It was on the theme: “Empowering grassroot innovations for sustainable development in the Eastern Region.”
The Young Africa Innovates Programme is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding by the Mastercard foundation.
Mr. Edmund Agbeve, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of Dare to Dream said “young people are addressing critical challenges in their communities using local resources such as coconut husk to produce footwear and charcoal, plantain stem for wiglet.
“He said all these served as a vehicle for economic empowerment and that funders were ready to invest in the youth-led initiative.
He urged PWDs to indulge themselves in the available opportunity to lessen their financial burden.
Mr. Jude Kwegyir-Aggrey from UNDP, said the Young Africa Innovates collaborates with government, grassroots organizations, the private sector and key stakeholders to identify and nurture the innovations of women especially, persons with disabilities and youth in rural areas.
The Grassroot Exhibition for Innovators gave an opportunity for panel discussions and questions from participants.
The event featured panel discussions and interactive sessions with participants, including students from Koforidua Technical University, Kpong Technical Institute, and Effiduase Technical Institute.
Representatives from the Ghana Enterprise Agency, National Youth Authority (NYA), and Eastern Tech Hub were also present.
Exhibits included a local drying machine by MADEX-D, coconut husk footwear by Bigfoot Sole Mate Limited, and banana stem wiglets by Lis Johnson Enterprise.
GNA
Edited by D.I. Laary/ Kenneth Odeng Adade