One of the challenges that women’s organisations persistently face is measuring impact. How do you measure self confidence, empowerment and leadership skills? The story told us by the members of the Bekuw Mea Fekuw confirm AWDF’s belief that if women are given skills, information and sustainable livelihoods, we in Africa can have vibrant, prosperous and healthy communities.
After a visit to Bekuw Mea Fekuw Bakery with colleagues from AWDF and our sister fund Urgent Action Fund – Africa, I was simply blown away by the difference a grant of US$2000 had made to the lives of the members of Bekuw Mea Fekuw Bakery. The name translates from the Ghanaian Akan language as ‘United Women’s Group Bakery’ and the group is situated in a town called Apeguso, in the eastern region of Ghana.
The group was founded by Sophia Amponsaa who was inspired by seeing women’s groups engaging in income generation activities on her travels to Suhum (a small town in Ghana) with her husband, a school teacher. Sophia has had minimal formal schooling and was grappling with the daily struggles of meeting her family’s needs with little income. On returning to Apeguso, Sophia invited local women to join her in setting up a women’s group and after discussions amongst group members the decision was taken to start a bakery as there were no bakeries in Apeguso.
The group started operating the bakery with a makeshift oven consisting of mesh wires on coal pots and little knowledge of bakery. The bread they produced was sub-standard in quality but they persisted and sold the bread at discounted prices asking the local community to support them by purchasing the bread. The members of Bekuw Mea Fekuw Bakery then decided to recruit an experienced baker to help them learn how to bake bread properly which is how Comfort Owusu from Akwamufie joined the group and started the process of training group members how to bake bread.
A foreign volunteer believed to be with the American Peace Corps happened upon the group and introduced them to the District Assembly in Apeguso The group then registered with the Ministry of Women and Children, a process which enabled them to learn about AWDF.
The members of the group with assistance from the District officials, applied for and received a grant with which an industrial oven was purchased. The industrial oven has enabled the group to produce better quality and more bread which is sold in the local market with profits being shared amongst group members. The group is open to all and one only needs to be willing to provide your labour to be welcomed as a group member. One of the members we spoke to was 75 year old retired school teacher Adwoa Darkoa who said that although she is unable to farm now the group has enabled her to continue to be active.
I was inspired by the leadership of Sophia who learnt from her experiences in other Ghanaian towns and founded a women’s group to enable self-sufficiency and to generate income from members of the group. I was inspired by the determination of the group members to start a bakery as they had recognised a gap in the market. The recruiting of an experienced baker shows the determination of the group members to succeed in running a successful bakery. It was refreshing to find out that members of the bakery were now invited to meetings by the District Assembly and had also received land (an important capital asset) for their hard work and contribution to the development of the town from the local chief. The joy, friendship and unity amongst members of Bekuw Mea Fekuw Bakery was both infectious and a joy to behold.
Thanks to a grant of US$2000 these women now have a source of income, contribute to their district assembly and are landowners! Has this grant resulted in increased self-confidence, empowerment and the development of leadership skills? I leave it to you to answer this question.
After a visit to Bekuw Mea Fekuw Bakery with colleagues from AWDF and our sister fund Urgent Action Fund – Africa, I was simply blown away by the difference a grant of US$2000 had made to the lives of the members of Bekuw Mea Fekuw Bakery. The name translates from the Ghanaian Akan language as ‘United Women’s Group Bakery’ and the group is situated in a town called Apeguso, in the eastern region of Ghana.
The group was founded by Sophia Amponsaa who was inspired by seeing women’s groups engaging in income generation activities on her travels to Suhum (a small town in Ghana) with her husband, a school teacher. Sophia has had minimal formal schooling and was grappling with the daily struggles of meeting her family’s needs with little income. On returning to Apeguso, Sophia invited local women to join her in setting up a women’s group and after discussions amongst group members the decision was taken to start a bakery as there were no bakeries in Apeguso.
The group started operating the bakery with a makeshift oven consisting of mesh wires on coal pots and little knowledge of bakery. The bread they produced was sub-standard in quality but they persisted and sold the bread at discounted prices asking the local community to support them by purchasing the bread. The members of Bekuw Mea Fekuw Bakery then decided to recruit an experienced baker to help them learn how to bake bread properly which is how Comfort Owusu from Akwamufie joined the group and started the process of training group members how to bake bread.
A foreign volunteer believed to be with the American Peace Corps happened upon the group and introduced them to the District Assembly in Apeguso The group then registered with the Ministry of Women and Children, a process which enabled them to learn about AWDF.
The members of the group with assistance from the District officials, applied for and received a grant with which an industrial oven was purchased. The industrial oven has enabled the group to produce better quality and more bread which is sold in the local market with profits being shared amongst group members. The group is open to all and one only needs to be willing to provide your labour to be welcomed as a group member. One of the members we spoke to was 75 year old retired school teacher Adwoa Darkoa who said that although she is unable to farm now the group has enabled her to continue to be active.
I was inspired by the leadership of Sophia who learnt from her experiences in other Ghanaian towns and founded a women’s group to enable self-sufficiency and to generate income from members of the group. I was inspired by the determination of the group members to start a bakery as they had recognised a gap in the market. The recruiting of an experienced baker shows the determination of the group members to succeed in running a successful bakery. It was refreshing to find out that members of the bakery were now invited to meetings by the District Assembly and had also received land (an important capital asset) for their hard work and contribution to the development of the town from the local chief. The joy, friendship and unity amongst members of Bekuw Mea Fekuw Bakery was both infectious and a joy to behold.
Thanks to a grant of US$2000 these women now have a source of income, contribute to their district assembly and are landowners! Has this grant resulted in increased self-confidence, empowerment and the development of leadership skills? I leave it to you to answer this question.
Nana Sekyiamah
Programme Officer
Fundraising & Communications
AWDF
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