GYIC equips vulnerable women, returnees for self-reliance

The Global Youth Innovation Center (GYIC) has trained more than 45 returnees and women with disabilities in Sunyani under a vocational programme aimed at promoting inclusive economic empowerment.

This bold step equipped the beneficiaries with practical skills in bakery and pastries, as well as cosmetology and makeup artistry.

The initiative, delivered under the Support for Local Training Providers project, responds directly to the growing urgency of unemployment and economic exclusion among vulnerable populations. By focusing on market-relevant and certified skill sets, GYIC is not just training participants – it is positioning them for sustainable livelihoods and meaningful participation in the local economy.

Practical training
Participants underwent intensive, hands-on training aimed at bridging the gap between theory and practice. They acquired practical skills in baking and professional makeup artistry, enabling them to pursue immediate income-generating opportunities.

During a visit to the training sessions, Benjamin Adomako Tawiah, Ghana Coordinator for German Sparkassenstiftung West Africa, highlighted the importance of skills development in today’s economy. He urged participants to approach the programme with discipline and commitment, stressing that practical skills are essential in an evolving job market.

“This is not just about attending training; it is about building a future,” he said, encouraging beneficiaries to apply their skills to become economically active and improve their livelihoods.

His remarks underscored the need for participants to transition from learning to earning.

Relevance
For his part, the Executive Director of GYIC, Mr. Eric Anorrey, highlighted the urgency and relevance of the intervention, and pointed to the rising unemployment rates among returnees and persons with disabilities, noting that systemic barriers often limit their access to formal employment opportunities.

“This training is both timely and necessary,” he explained. “We are witnessing a steady increase in unemployment among PWDs and returnees, many of whom face exclusion from mainstream economic opportunities. By equipping them with practical, market-driven skills, we are creating pathways for financial independence, dignity, and social inclusion.”

He further emphasized that GYIC’s approach goes beyond training, aiming to foster long-term empowerment and resilience. “Our goal is to ensure that beneficiaries do not just acquire skills, but are able to translate those skills into viable businesses or employment opportunities. That is how we drive real impact.”

The training initiative stands as a testament to the power of targeted, inclusive interventions in addressing unemployment and inequality. For many of the women involved, it marks the beginning of a new chapter – one defined by opportunity, self-reliance, and hope.

Empowerment
As GYIC continues to champion youth and marginalized empowerment, programs like this reaffirm a simple but powerful truth: when people are equipped with the right skills, they don’t just survive they thrive.

Global Youth Innovation Center is the Local Training Provider with funding support from the German Sparkassenstiftung Western Africa on behalf of the Ghanaian-European Centre for Jobs, Migration and Development, of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with co-funding from the European Union, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.