Thirty women are set to benefit from the ECOFEM incubation programme implemented by Mckingtorch Africa, which aims to train and establish women-led recycling businesses in the country.
The programme, targeted at women under the age of 34, seeks to support the creation of 10 women-led businesses focused on producing footwear, bags, earrings and other products from recycled materials.
Speaking at the launch of the ECOFEM incubation programme, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mckingtorch Africa, Makafui Awuku, mentioned that the ECOFEM incubation programme is a promising initiative that not only focuses on environmental sustainability but also on empowering women and young people through entrepreneurship and skill development.
With its focus on creating sustainable businesses and providing the necessary support and resources, it is set to make a positive impact on the lives of the women involved and contribute to a more sustainable future.
In addition to this, the programme seeks to develop a mobile app for plastic waste management. This app will serve as a platform to connect individuals with plastic waste collectors and recycling companies, making waste management more efficient and accessible.
“Many individuals are interested in finding sustainable options for disposing of their plastic waste, not necessarily for selling it. The goal is to prevent plastic waste from ending up in landfills by providing a platform that connects people who have plastic waste with those who are willing to collect it and pass it on to recycling companies. This platform will include recycling companies, households, offices, companies and aggregators,” he explained.
Additionally, aggregation locations are being set up to collect plastic waste on a larger scale, while communities are being reached out to through radio announcements, inviting individuals with available space to become collection points for plastic waste.
Mr. Awuku further said: “As part of the training, we are establishing an E-commerce platform for women to easily showcase their products without the need for a physical shop. Our next step is to determine how they will sell their products. We already have access to potential customers in the green space and will provide them with access. Once the platform is live, people can visit the pages to order or purchase items. Additionally, we will continue to support these women-owned businesses by providing ongoing technical assistance after the training”.
The beneficiaries of the project are from diverse backgrounds. Some of them are recent university graduates, while others are already running their businesses. Additionally, there are some participants who have no business experience. This allows for a diverse and inclusive project that caters to various demographics, he added.
The CEO also mentioned that the project will offer a physical co-working space for the programme participants since some of the women do not have safe spaces and facilities for work purposes.
The Country Director for World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Ghana, Emelia Ayipio Asamoah, said the initiative focuses on providing training to women on how to transform plastic into usable products. This not only improves their incomes but also contributes to a cleaner environment. This effort, she said, is part of a larger focus on environmental sustainability, with the goal of creating a better future for Ghana.
The ECOFEM project is being funded by WUSC and is being implemented by Mckingtorch Africa. Additionally, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) is also coming onboard to provide additional support to help enroll approximately ten head potters onto the programme.
