A wave of change is sweeping through the lives of some marginalized women in Zongo, a suburb of Sunyani in the Bono Region of Ghana fueled by the determination of women ready to rewrite their stories. The Global Youth Innovation Center (GYIC) is spearheading a bold new initiative—the Livelihood Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE Project)—designed to unlock economic freedom and transform lives for women trapped in cycles of poverty and limited opportunity.
Recently, the LIFE Project hosted an electrifying planning session with local women, ensuring that their voices shape every step of the journey. These vibrant discussions centered on crafting personalized economic pathways, mapping out resources, and scheduling capacity-building workshops that promise real skills for real change.
Despite Sunyani’s rapid urban growth, many women—especially single mothers and those under 45—remain caught in precarious jobs like street hawking or unsafe work environments. The LIFE Project aims to shatter these barriers by offering women the tools to choose their own economic ventures, from tailoring to small-scale trading, supported by technical training, starter kits, mentorship, and ongoing community encouragement.
Funded by the Advocates for Community Alternatives and the Sora Kaufman Fellowship, the project is a beacon of hope, forging strong partnerships with the Sunyani Municipal Assembly, Social Welfare Department, and local microfinance institutions. This ensures a sustainable network where women don’t just survive—they thrive, pioneering new livelihoods that uplift their families and inspire entire communities.
As these women step into roles as innovators and leaders, the ripple effect promises to rejuvenate Sunyani’s local economy. The LIFE Project is not just about empowerment—it’s about transformation, proving that when women rise, communities soar.
“With the launch of the LIFE Project, we are not only investing in women but in the future of the local economy of Sunyani Municipal” says Eric Anorrey the Executive Director of the Global Youth Innovation Center, the implementers of the project.
“When women thrive, communities rise. The LIFE Project is more than empowerment; it is transformation.”
