Over 70 Women in Yaru Trained in Green Livelihood Skills Under Youth for Green Futures Project
More than 70 young women and women in Yaru in the Wa East District of the Upper West Region have received vocational training in pomade and shower gel production under the Youth for Green Futures Project.
The training, organized by the Youth Alliance for Community Change (YACC Ghana), forms part of efforts to empower women with sustainable livelihood skills while contributing to environmental protection and climate resilience.
The Youth for Green Futures Project, supported by the Global Youth Mobilization under the Youth Empowerment Fund, seeks to empower young people and women to lead climate action and environmental sustainability initiatives in the Yaru community.
The participants were taken through practical sessions on the production processes of pomade and shower gel and were introduced to basic knowledge on product handling, quality assurance, and the potential for transforming the acquired skills into income-generating ventures.
Facilitators also engaged the women on the link between environmental degradation and livelihoods, emphasizing the need to pursue economic activities that protect rather than harm natural resources.
Speaking during the training, Project Coordinator and Founder of YACC Ghana, Aminu Ibrahim, said the intervention was designed to address both environmental and socio-economic challenges confronting rural communities.
He noted that many women and young people often engage in environmentally harmful activities such as tree cutting and charcoal production due to limited livelihood opportunities.
According to him, providing practical and marketable skills can create alternative sources of income while reducing pressure on the environment.
"We believe that climate action should also improve people's lives and livelihoods, and this training is an opportunity for women to acquire skills that can generate income while contributing to environmental sustainability," he said.
Mr. Ibrahim added that empowering women economically is essential to building resilient communities capable of responding effectively to the challenges posed by climate change.
The training sessions were highly participatory, with women actively engaging facilitators, asking questions, and sharing experiences on local livelihood challenges and opportunities.
Several participants described the initiative as timely and transformative.
One beneficiary, Rahi Hakim said the skills acquired would enable her to start a small business and supplement household income while avoiding activities that contribute to environmental degradation.
Another participant, Memuna Rashid commended YACC Ghana for bringing practical training opportunities directly to the community and expressed optimism that the knowledge gained would benefit not only the participants but their families as well.
The large turnout exceeded the project's initial target of reaching 30 women, reflecting the high demand for livelihood opportunities among women in the community.
Training facilitator and YACC programmes officer, Museida Alhassan indicated that the training would be complemented with the provision of start-up materials to support participants to begin producing the products and applying their newly acquired skills.
She expressed confidence that the intervention would contribute to reducing environmental pressures associated with unsustainable livelihood practices while strengthening the economic resilience of women and their households.
For many of the participants, the training represented more than a skills acquisition exercise.
It was an opportunity to reimagine livelihoods, strengthen economic independence, and become active partners in protecting the environment and building a greener future for Yaru.
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