The World University Service of Canada (WUSC), a leading Canadian non-profit organization, has launched a campaign to urge women to pursue careers in male-dominated Technical and Vocational Educational Training (TVET) trades in Ghana.
The campaign, dubbed ‘INVEST in Her’, is a collaboration between WUSC and CTVET which is aimed at changing deep-rooted perceptions and norms about women’s involvement in these trades.
The campaign is part of the ‘Innovation in Non-Traditional Vocational Education and Skills Training’ (INVEST) project for women in Ghana, a five-year collaborative initiative to promote sustainable pathways and enhance economic empowerment for 5,000 urban marginalized young women in Ghana.
With funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the project will impact women in Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Accra.
INVEST Project Director, Appiah Boakye said, “the INVEST in Her campaign is a major driver changing the narrative by eliciting support from all stakeholders towards empowering women to take up jobs in male-dominated sectors. We believe that investing in women in these trade areas will help contribute to higher employment, better livelihoods, and increased contribution to the economy of Ghana”.
“We have several initiatives under this campaign to achieve the desired outcomes. This includes radio drama series on some stations, TV campaign, community outreaches and stakeholder engagements, and some capacity building sessions”, she continued.
Through the INVEST initiative, WUSC is utilizing an inclusive market systems approach to strengthen the capacity of a diverse array of TVET stakeholders to support women trainees, graduates, artisans and entrepreneurs in male-dominated trades.
It further provides a unique opportunity to strengthen and connect TVET system actors on both the supply and demand side of the labor market.
The INVEST in Her campaign will therefore amplify these efforts, and connect a wider audience to the message of change.
Leveraging on partner expertise, WUSC is working with the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), ABANTU for Development, National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), Ghana Chamber of Construction and Industry, Women in Law and Development, Self-Search Ghana, Ghana TVET Service, Lyme Haus Solutions, Farm Radio International and other partners.
With diverse initiatives, the partners will improve the capacity of system actors within the TVET system to deliver market-relevant and gender-sensitive training and support services to young women in Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Accra.
About WUSC
WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people.
It brings together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision.
The organization also fosters youth-centered solutions in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion in over 25 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas.
