Social Enterprise Ghana trains, connects youth to employment opportunities

Social Enterprise Ghana has organised a three-day digital freelancing training in partnership with Africa Forward to tackle unemployment among the youth in Ghana.

The skills-focused capacity-building programme is designed to equip young people with market-relevant skills, job opportunities, and entrepreneurship support, enabling them to transition into dignified and sustainable work.

The programme also aims to empower young people, especially women, to establish and grow businesses that can create employment for others. It places strong emphasis on inclusion, targeting 100 per cent youth participation, with at least 70 per cent women and a minimum of five per cent persons with disabilities.

Officials of Social Enterprise Ghana explained that the initiative is structured to address youth unemployment by combining skills training with access to job and enterprise opportunities, particularly for women and marginalised groups who often face barriers in securing meaningful work.

Through this initiative, organisers aim to train between 150 and 200 young people, equipping them with skills to earn sustainable incomes and build careers in the digital space. They noted that the focus is not only on training but also on ensuring that participants are linked to real opportunities within the labour market.

The training formed part of targeted interventions being implemented to build the capacity of young people and link them to income-generating opportunities, particularly within the growing digital economy.

Participants were taken through practical sessions in social media marketing, social media influencing, video production and editing, graphic design, and the use of Google Workspace tools. The programme also covered essential soft skills such as communication, CV writing, interview preparation, and personal branding, which are critical for professional growth.

Facilitators emphasised that the combination of technical and soft skills was necessary to position participants to compete effectively in both local and global job markets, especially within the digital freelancing space.

Training facilitator, Ibrahim Bashiru, noted that the programme goes beyond basic digital training and focuses on unlocking opportunities for participants.

“Today’s training is about more than just learning digital tools; it’s about unlocking opportunities. Over the past three days, we have equipped participants with practical skills in Google Workspace, graphic design, video editing, and social media marketing, alongside essential soft skills like communication, CV writing, and interview preparation,” he said.

Another facilitator, Eunice Abedi, stressed the importance of confidence and practical application of knowledge in securing opportunities.

“Our goal as facilitators is to ensure that every participant leaves not just with knowledge but with the confidence and ability to apply these skills in real-world settings — whether through freelancing, internships, or employment. The digital economy is full of opportunities, and we are proud to be part of a programme that is preparing young people to access and thrive in that space,” she stated.

A participant, Sadat Idrisu, described the training as a valuable experience that had improved both his skills and confidence in pursuing digital opportunities.

“This training has been a truly valuable experience for me. Before this, I had limited knowledge of digital freelancing, but now I have gained practical skills in areas like graphic design, social media marketing, and video editing,” he said.

He added that beyond the technical knowledge, the training had also helped him improve his professional presentation, including how to prepare a curriculum vitae and position himself effectively for job opportunities in the digital space.

Organisers highlighted that the initiative builds on previous interventions implemented under the programme, including a skills training in yoghurt production, where several participants have already started their own businesses, demonstrating the practical impact of such initiatives.

They explained that the introduction of digital freelancing training expands the scope of opportunities available to young people by connecting them to the global digital economy, where they can access remote jobs and freelance work.

The initiative received support from key partners who contributed to different aspects of the training to ensure a holistic learning experience for participants.

FirstBank Ghana engaged participants on financial literacy, focusing on managing earnings, receiving payments, saving effectively, and building sustainable livelihoods as freelancers and entrepreneurs.

The Africa Technical Apprenticeship Network supported efforts to link participants to employment through its 12-month paid apprenticeship programme, helping to bridge the gap between education and the job market.

Built Financial Technologies provided training on bookkeeping and financial management, equipping participants with the knowledge to track income and expenses and make informed financial decisions.

In addition, Social Enterprise Ghana is collaborating with the E4 Impact Foundation to provide paid internship opportunities, enabling participants to gain practical work experience and transition smoothly into employment.

Organisers reiterated their commitment to ensuring that young people are connected to real opportunities that enable them to earn sustainable incomes and build long-term careers, rather than only acquiring theoretical knowledge.

They further encouraged women and persons with disabilities to take advantage of such initiatives, stressing that inclusive participation remains central to the programme’s implementation.

The programme is expected to contribute significantly to efforts aimed at reducing youth unemployment and promoting sustainable economic growth in Ghana, as more young people are equipped with the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to succeed in the evolving digital economy.

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