IWD Project Highlight:- Educating and Empowering through Entrepreneurship

By Ophelia Opoku

To celebrate IWD 2025, WC4E Alumna Ophelia Opoku donated sewing machines and accessories to Ayim D/A Basic School to support hands-on learning in Career Technology. The initiative empowered over 100 students with practical skills in sewing, sparking interest in entrepreneurship and vocational training.

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, WC4E Alumma Ophelia Opoku led a skills-based empowerment initiative that directly addressed a critical gap in Ghana’s basic education curriculum. Although Career Technology has been introduced as a subject by the Ghana Education Service (GES), most schools lack the tools and materials needed to deliver hands-on instruction. Ophelia’s project aimed to change that.

On March 27, 2025, she and her team visited Ayim D/A Basic School to donate two sewing machines and a full set of sewing accessories. This donation brought practical learning to life for students, many of whom had never operated a sewing machine before.

Why This Matters

Without tools to complement theory, students struggle to grasp the real-world application of career and vocational subjects. This contributes to low performance in Career Technology and a declining interest in skills training and entrepreneurship. By donating functional equipment and aligning with the GES curriculum, this initiative provided not just materials, but meaningful opportunity.

Impact Highlights

• 100+ students now have access to working sewing machines for practical instruction

• Students will explore entrepreneurship opportunities in fashion and textiles

• Renewed interest in skills acquisition and hands-on learning across the school

• Strong support from teachers, students, and even parents who joined in expressing appreciation

Sustainability and Accountability

To ensure the donated items are used as intended, the team signed an agreement with the school leadership which reserves the right to reclaim the equipment if it is not used for student benefit. This accountability mechanism encourages ongoing use and care.

Looking Ahead

This effort has already sparked interest in expanding similar donations to other schools with limited resources. The enthusiasm and gratitude from the Ayim community have shown just how powerful small interventions can be when matched with thoughtful planning and genuine commitment to educational equity.