Fund Sewing Skills for Women in South Africa

Dear Supporters, 

During 2019 to date, the GVI Trust has supported GVI to expand its activi- ties in Ghana, during the establishment of a new GVI base in Kokrobite, Ac- cra. As a result, GVI is in the final stages of discussions with three new local partners in order to design and deliver a range of new programs in women’s empowerment and female reproductive health services, and so as to further the GVI Trust focus on SDG 5 – Gender Equality.

1. The Saint Nicholas Academy Mother’s Club

This small local school provides free places to students from the traditional local fishing communities, and therefore has strong relationships with pa- rents and, in particular, women from those communities. Following positive initial discussions, GVI has submitted a project proposal and memorandum of understanding to the school to form a ‘Mother’s Club’ for approximately 50 of the women who are parents to students from the school. Once for- malised, GVI will begin providing regular life skills, economic empowerment training workshops, basic English literacy and computing skills classes, and gender equality workshops to the women. The services to be offered were agreed directly with the women following GVI research discussions to iden- tify the women’s key personal goals and what skills might be required to achieve these goals. As well as a regular place of skill development and learning, the club will aspire to provide the women with a safe space to dis- cuss women’s issues and to socialise among peers.

2. The Ghana Girl Guides Association:

Working with this international NGO with a membership of thousands of women and girls in Ghana, GVI is in the final stages of formalising a part- nership to help the Girl Guides establish broader professional and voca- tional skills training services that empower women and girls to achieve im- proved economic and professional independence.

GVI is planning a range of highly impactful projects with the Girl Guides for 2019, including; joint participation in a female health and menstrual hy- giene programme for students at local schools, an environmental protec- tion and recycling education series for all members of the Ghana Girl Guides, and computer training for Girl Guides members attending schools which cannot provide computer equipment. These projects will be finalised over the coming weeks with activities proposed to start in June.

3. The Islamic Nursing College

This new college is in the final stages of construction and is located adja- cent to GVI’s base in the community of Kokrobite. With plans to offer thou- sands of places to medical and nursing students, the college represents a perfect partner for GVI to deliver women’s reproductive health and support training services. A project proposal and memorandum of understanding have been submitted to the board of the college by GVI for approval, laying out the range of services GVI can provide to enrich the standard curriculum at the college. Once agreed, GVI will maintain a full time office at the college through which a range of workshops, classes and training events will be organised, both for the students and staff but also for members of the local community who will be provided with free-of-charge places.

The college is due to launch in January 2020, with GVI primed and ready to participate from day 1!

For all three of these exciting new GVI Trust projects and partners, the GVI team in Ghana will be finalising the planning and details and driving for- ward with partnership activities throughout 2019. Watch this space to see how these women’s empowerment and gender equality projects develop!

So, for now, GVI Trust in Ghana wants to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has-and we hope will continue to-make our work in Ghana possible!