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Thirty women are set to benefit from the ECOFEM incubation program run by Mckingtorch Africa, which aims to foster and establish women-led recycling businesses in the country.
The program is aimed at women aged 34 and under and aims to support the creation of 10 women-led businesses focused on making footwear, bags, earrings and other products from recycled materials.
Speaking at the launch of the ECOFEM Incubation Program, Mr. Makafui Awuku, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mckingtorch Africa, said that the ECOFEM Incubation Program not only focuses on environmental sustainability, but also on entrepreneurship and He said it is a promising initiative that also focuses on the empowerment of women and youth through entrepreneurship. Capacity development.
By focusing on creating sustainable businesses and providing the necessary support and resources, we aim to positively impact the lives of the women involved and contribute to a more sustainable future.
In addition to this, the program also aims to develop a mobile app for plastic waste management. The app serves as a platform that connects individuals with plastic waste collectors and recycling companies, making waste management more efficient and accessible.
“Many people are interested in finding sustainable options to dispose of plastic waste, not necessarily in selling it. The goal is to help people who have plastic waste and prevent plastic waste from ending up in landfills by providing a platform that connects people who want to collect and hand over their plastic waste to recycling companies. The platform includes recycling companies, homes, offices, It will include companies, aggregators,” he explained.
Additionally, gathering points are being set up for plastic waste collection on a larger scale, while community outreach is being done through radio announcements, inviting individuals with available space to become collection points for plastic waste. There is.
Mr. Awuku further stated: “As part of our training, we are building an e-commerce platform that will allow women to easily showcase their products without the need for a physical store. The next step is to decide how to market the products. . We already have access to potential customers within the green space and plan to provide access to them. Once the platform is live, users will be able to access pages to order or purchase products. Additionally, we will continue to support these women-owned businesses by providing ongoing technical assistance post-training.”
The project’s beneficiaries come from a variety of backgrounds. Some of them are recent university graduates, while others are already running businesses. Additionally, some of the participants have no business experience. This allows for diverse and inclusive projects that cater to different demographics, he added.
The CEO also said that the project will provide program participants with a physical co-working space, as some women do not have safe spaces or facilities to work.
World University Services Canada (WUSC) Ghana Country Director Emelia Ipio Asamoah said the initiative focuses on training women on how to turn plastic into usable products. This not only improves their income but also contributes to a cleaner environment. She said the initiative is part of a larger focus on environmental sustainability with the goal of building a better future for Ghana.
The ECOFEM project is funded by WUSC and implemented by Mckingtorch Africa. In addition, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) will also participate and provide additional support to help approximately 10 head potters enroll in the program.