A non-governmental organization, Hope for Future Generation (HFFG) and UNAIDS, have jointly launched an economic empowerment program aimed at supporting young people and women to gain employable skills and also earn income from those skills.

The project, dubbed, Social Enterprise Development (SED) is being funded by the UNAIDS Solidarity Fund which is aimed at improving the socio-economic status of young people and young women adversely and disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Executive Director of Hope for Future Generations, Cecilia Lodonu-Senoo, said this project “is building the capacity of young people and their beneficiaries to be on their own and make good decisions that will improve their lives.”

She expressed optimism about the partnership with UNAIDS which is providing about $24,000 in funding for the project.

“We want the young people to know that amidst COVID-19, there are people that care and think about them. We want more people to partner with us to help young people implement their own projects.”

The project is being implemented through two enterprises; ‘Martin Greenhouse Farm’ and ‘No Weapon Fashion’.

The Martin Greenhouse Farm was developed from scratch by one of the project beneficiaries and is producing vegetables using greenhouse technology in Accra, while the No Weapon Fashion is producing high-quality design and sewing services in Ashaiman.

“It’s a journey of Hope for Future Generations, and our expectation is to continue this so that many more young people will benefit, especially women. It is part of our strategic plan,” Cecilia Lodonu-Senoo noted.

The Country Director of UNAIDS, Angela Trenton-Mbonde, said the project falls in line with UNAIDS’ objectives, which include improving the socio-economic fortunes of persons living with HIV.

“The people living with HIV are people who were also affected by COVID. They need access to resources. If they are also involved in this project, that would help. They are also members of the community who would benefit from this,” she said, adding that UNAIDS will mobilize resources to ensure that the project becomes successful.

“UNAIDS has a great capacity to mobilize and leverage funding. When we show the success of what we have started, we know that we would get the funding.”

Some of the beneficiaries who were at the launch expressed gratitude to UNAIDS and Hope for Future Generations for the initiative and pledged to help make the project successful.