– Empowering Kayayei’s from the Streets to Success
Opportunity International Savings and Loans (OISL) is a leading Savings and Loans company licensed by the Bank of Ghana in June 2004. The institution on 4 th August 2023, once again graduated and celebrated 35 young women in its flagship program of providing vocational skills that seek to transform the lives of Street Porters (Kayayei) who live and labour in the markets and streets to make ends meet.
These girls underwent an intensive four-week training on practical vocational skills such as beading, baking, and soap making. Since its inception, this program has successfully taken 202 young women through this impactful program with the sole aim of supporting them to establish businesses of their own after graduation. As part of the graduation, the girls were equipped with startup kits and issued with certificates as well.
The graduation event was to celebrate the lives of these girls who managed to complete the Four-week intensive program showcasing their dedication to endure to the end against all obstacles. The occasion was graced by Mr. Katey Eric Assem (Board Chairman of OISL), Hajia Azara Abukari-Haroun (Chairperson for the Board
Transformation of OISL), Dr. Francis Takyi (Ag. Deputy CEO and Chief Risk Officer of OISL), Bishop Emmanuel Victor Adjei Owiredu, Overseer of Jewels of God Church, Nachinaa Isah Abass, the Dagomba Chief of Accra and other Management staff of 01SL.
Hajia Azara, who was the guest speaker for the occasion emphasized on 01SL’s commitment to creating a positive impact in the lives of people. She motivated the recipients to embrace their newfound skills gained through the program and to maximize their potentials
Mr. Assem, the board chairman of 01SL in a heartfelt message, expressed his gratitude to the Kayayie Community and the donors for the program, Medicor Foundation. He appreciated the graduands for taking this transformative step forward and that this step is a symbol of letting go of their past struggles as kayayie and never to return again. He urged them to embrace the brighter future of hope and success which is not for themselves alone but also for their families.
The kayayei Project is a collaborative effort between OISL and Medicor Foundation which is dedicated to empowering and educating these marginalized kayeyei girls.
The Medicor Foundation is an independent and charitable foundation that focuses on education, health and social care to contribute to the sustainable improvement of the wellbeing and empowerment of the vulnerable and disadvantaged people in countries in Africa, Latin America and The Caribbean, as well as in Eastern Europe.
Out of the 202 girls who have been trained since the inception of the program, 175 of the girls representing 87% are currently utilizing the skills acquired to fend for themselves and their families and 95 of them representing 48% have relocated back to the Northern region for settlement. These girls now serve as a living proof of the inherent capabilities present in every marginalized person, showcasing the remarkable possibilities that can be unlocked through appropriate opportunities and support.
Opportunity International Savings and Loans currently has 38 branches across the country advancing financial inclusion and bringing clients at the base of the pyramid into the mainstream financial services using innovative range of products and services. Opportunity International Savings and Loans Limited is a subsidiary of Opportunity International
