From vulnerability to viability: NDG equips JHS graduates with skills and hope

 By Evelyn Deladem ANSI

In October 2023, Nurturing Dreams Ghana (NDG) drew public attention to the rising tide of juvenile vulnerability and academic decline in communities surrounding the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The exposé highlighted heartbreaking data: children underperforming in school, living without biological parents, and becoming targets for criminal gangs, drug abuse, and exploitation. Following that, NDG is not just raising alarms—but building alternatives through the Sweet-Scented Life Project.

The response – Hope, Skills, and a New Vision for Youth

NDG is currently running a pilot youth entrepreneurship program, training 20 Junior High School graduates—10 girls and 10 boys—from Kotei and Ayeduase RC. The training focuses on producing leather sandals, belts, and school shoes based on Ghana Education Service (GES) specifications.

Beyond just skill acquisition, the project introduces these youth to social entrepreneurship—encouraging them to market their products to classmates and peers in other schools and the opportunity for mentors to speak into their lives.

In an exceptional display of institutional support, NDG reached out to departments within KNUST for space to engage the JHS graduates, and the Department of Communication Design, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Adam Rahman, responded the same day.

Their swift commitment affirmed that supporting creative, hands-on opportunities for disadvantaged youth is not just charity—but a core value and social responsibility. “This is the kind of project that reflects what we stand for,” Rev. Dr. Rahman remarked. “Design thinking, creativity, and social impact—all in one.”

The Department of Indigenous Arts and Technology (DIAT) under the leadership of Dr Vincentia Okpattah Womegah, also allowed the children into their Leather craft studio and supported with highly skilled teaching assistants to further train the NDG mentees when the main trainer is unavailable.

Wisdom, encouragement & academic partnership

The opening session was marked by inspirational words from distinguished guests. Professor Ibok Nsa Oduro, the first female Provost of the KNUST College of Science, urged the trainees to embrace this opportunity with vision and resilience. “Rise to the top,” she said. “The bottom is already too crowded.”

Also present was Diana Bempong Ampomah, Esq., NDG Board Secretary and civic educator, who challenged the trainees to adopt a mindset of responsibility: “True help is the one that continues long after the helper is gone. Let this training spark a lifetime of meaningful work,” she noted.

“These are students who could easily have been lured into petty crime or harmful behaviors during this idle period after school,” says Evelyn Deladem Ansi, Impact Lead at NDG. “We are showing them that their hands can create valxue—and their value can be their future.”

The training is not only technical—it’s transformational. Through mentorship, character-building sessions, and business development guidance, the trainees are encouraged to sell their products to classmates and other schools, turning them into peer-level entrepreneurs.

Leading the training is Mr. Samuel Yeboah, a security officer and professional shoemaker whose life story resonated deeply with the trainees. Once part of a vigilante group, Mr. Yeboah shared how his involvement in violence and chaos led only to regret. It was the shoemaking trade he learned in his youth that eventually became his lifeline. “I wasted so many years chasing things that never lasted. This trade saved me. I’m here so you don’t repeat my mistakes,” he told the students. “Now I make shoes for my friends and they love them. I didn’t know I could do this,” shares one 15-year-old girl from Kotei.

Growing possibilities from a pilot project

NDG envisions this pilot becoming a yearly youth-led school uniform supplement model with signing of more off-takers agreement. As each cohort is trained, they return to their schools with dignity, purpose, and a product to sell—breaking the cycle of dependency and criminal thinking. This builds on NDG’s past work in residential behavioral camps and education advocacy, now taking a social business approach to youth empowerment.

From pilot to pathway – A scalable vision

Just a few weeks ago, these were Junior High School graduates, uncertain of the road ahead. Today, they are leather artisans, entrepreneurs, and ambassadors of change in their schools and communities. At NDG, we believe that giving skills is not enough—we give dignity, direction, and a different future. “And so, as we showcase their work—these beautifully handcrafted sandals, belts, and shoes—let us remember: this is more than fashion or craft. This is the sound of crime being silenced, of idleness turned into innovation, and of vulnerability transformed into value,” says Mr. Samuel Ansi Jnr, Project Manager for Nurturing Dreams Ghana.

“We thank every parent, partner, trainer, and friend who has made this possible. The journey has just begun, and we will not stop until hope becomes the new normal for every child in our communities.”

A call to stakeholders – Join the movement

NDG is calling on schools, parents, corporate sponsors, and government stakeholders to support this life-changing model. Schools and parents are encouraged to order their GES-recommended sandals and belts from these youth entrepreneurs. Corporate bodies can fund new cohorts or supply leather and tools. The vision is bold: transform Ghana’s most vulnerable children into confident creators, business-minded citizens, and beacons of hope in their communities.

For sponsorships, school orders, or to visit the NDG Halfway House-Training center, contact: +233 545 920850, Visit our website at nurturingdreamsgh.com. Feel free to send an email through [email protected].

>>>the writer is a purpose-driven social entrepreneur with over a decade of experience transforming the lives of vulnerable teenagers and women through character and competence-based skill training. As a journalist and public relations specialist, she has strategically used business methods to empower, inspire, and equip young people, enabling them to develop vocational skills, strong character, and competence.

Evelyn has impacted thousands of youths, notably as the former Head of Public Relations at a senior high school. Through her organization, Nurturing Dreams Ghana (NDG), she has introduced Mindset Education to students in collaboration with various TVET schools. Evelyn also served a three-year term as Secretary for the Ashanti Regional Business Committee (RBC), where she contributed to the successful implementation of the MasterCard Foundation’s Young African Works (YAW) project. This initiative helped 3,000 young women secure dignified employment as part of the RBC’s collective efforts. Evelyn envisions a future where young people, especially those at risk of going astray, are redirected toward fulfilling, dignifying, work-ready careers in an increasingly competitive job market.