The Rural–Urban Salvage Network (RUSaN) has organised a vocational and digital skills training program for young women in Siiriyiri and surrounding communities in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region.
The initiative, funded by the Global Greengrants Fund, forms part of efforts by the organisation to promote sustainable livelihoods and women’s economic empowerment in rural communities.
Participants were trained in soap making, business management, financial literacy, and digital marketing. The program introduced the young women to practical ways of promoting and selling their products online to reach wider markets beyond their communities.
The training attracted several young women from the community, with local leaders attending the closing session to show their support.
Addressing participants, the Assembly Member for the area, Adams Osman, commended organisers for bringing what he described as an impactful initiative to the community. He urged the young women to take the training seriously and apply the knowledge acquired to improve their livelihoods and support their families.
He also encouraged them to remain commandd, and innovative in their small businesses, noting that skills development and entrepreneurship remain key to addressing unemployment among young people in rural areas.
A traditional leader in the community who attended the event expressed appreciation to the organisers for selecting Siiriyiri as a beneficiary of the project. He encouraged the young women to make good use of the opportunity and support one another in building successful businesses.
According to him, empowering women with practical skills not only improves household incomes but also contributes to the overall development of the community.
President of the Rural–Urban Salvage Network, Engineer Siita Naayif Bayantare, emphasized the importance of equipping rural women and youth with skills that can create sustainable livelihoods.
He explained that the project was designed not only to provide vocational skills but also to introduce participants to digital tools that can help them access larger markets and grow their businesses.
Engineer Bayantare thanked the Global Greengrants Fund for supporting the initiative and encouraged the young women to remain determined and innovative, adding that empowering women economically contributes significantly to community develprogramThe programme ended with practical demonstrations and group interactions among participants, highlighting the positive impact of the initiative. Community members expressed hope that programmes would be expanded to other communities in the Wa West District to further promote youth empowerment and sustainable development.
Some participants expressed excitement and gratitude for the opportunity, noting that the training had equipped them with practical knowledge and the confidence to start their own businesses.
A beneficiary said the digital marketing training had opened her eyes to new opportunities, explaining that she now understands how to promote products using mobile phones and online platforms. Another participant noted that the business management and financial literacy lessons would help her manage her income better and grow her enterprise.
