EMPOWERING FEMALE HEAD PORTERS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP
UNFPA Ghana, committed to empowering vulnerable populations has recognised the need to uplift the lives of ‘Kayayei’ - female head potters in Ghana. Together with Purium African Youth Development Platform and Prudential Life Ghana, a company deeply invested in community development, a unique partnership was born, one focused on providing 'Kayayei' with livelihood and life skills training.
In the heart of Accra live many of these Kayeyei, striving to make a living. Their stories are often marked by hardship, but also by resilience.
To strengthen their agency and provide them with a more dignified source of income, The Kayayei Assistance Project (KASPRO) initiative, aimed at equipping Kayayei with livelihood empowerment skills was borne during the era of COVID -19 to provide these vulnerable women with alternative livelihood skills while equipping them with knowledge about their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) . KASPRO sought to bridge the labour gap in gender, providing them with the right information to stay free from sexual exploitation and abuse and gender-based violence.
For the current phase, 20 girls were introduced to traditionally male dominated jobs and have been trained in tiling and painting. The girls were taken through orientation and capacity-building sessions on economic livelihood skill training, business and financial management and then assigned to instructors to learn the practical skills for a whole year. The transformation was not just in their skills. It was also in their spirit. They have begun to see themselves not just as head porters, but as skilled workers, as individuals capable of building a better future.
As they complete their training, they look forward to either securing jobs with construction companies or starting their own small businesses, offering their services to homeowners. They are determined to break the cycle of poverty.
This transformative partnership between UNFPA Ghana, PAYDP and Prudential Life Ghana tells a timeless truth that with targeted support, the 'Kayayei' can transition from carrying loads on their heads, to building lives with their own hands. Their futures are now painted with possibility.
What once seemed temporary is now turning into tangible hope. Their stories are being retold not with tragedy but with triumph.
The journey of transformation for these resilient Kayayei is far from over. It is now our collective responsibility to ensure their triumph is sustained. UNFPA Ghana, PAYDP, and Prudential Life Ghana call on government agencies, private sector entities, civil society organisations, and the general public to join them in this meaningful endeavour. By supporting and investing in initiatives like KASPRO, you contribute directly to a Ghana where every young woman thrives, free from exploitation and empowered with dignity and independence.
