Eighteen PWDs trained in beads making

Eighteen females with disability in the Eastern Region have been trained in beads making to improve their livelihoods.

The training was funded by DANIDA, in collaboration with the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD) and Krobodan, a Danish/Krobo Non-Governmental Organisation in Koforidua, aimed at empowering women with disability.

The beneficiaries were drawn from four districts in the Region - New Juaben, Okere, Akuapem North and Manya Krobo – and were taken through weeks of beads training.

They were given start-up kits and some money to set up their own business.

Mr Daniel Agyekum, the Regional Coordinator of the GSPD, at the graduation ceremony, said most of the women had no source of livelihoods, which made them vulnerable, hence the training to enable them to make a living.

He said last year, through the collaboration, six women with disability were trained but with the support of DANIDA, this year’s number increased to 18 and commended the Krobodan group for facilitating the programme.

Mrs Eku Sika Addo, the President and Founder of Passion for Mother and Child Ministry, who was a Special Guest, urged the women to effectively use the skills acquired to become self-reliant.

She advised them against self-pity and inferiority complex as those were behaviours, which could prevent them from doing something meaningful for themselves and their families.

She urged them to educate their children, especially the girl-child, to become assets to the society rather than begging with them on the streets.

Ms Beatrice Yeboah, the Regional Treasurer of the GSPD, appealed to the various district assemblies, where the beneficiaries were selected, to provide them with convenient spaces to transact their beads-making business as they could not move around to sell their products.