A senior student of Lincoln Community School in Accra, Samaira De, has launched a digital skills empowerment initiative aimed at transforming the lives of marginalised boys in Ghana and Liberia.

Known as Project REY (REMAR Empowering Youth), the initiative was established in 2023 in collaboration with REMAR Ghana, a rehabilitation organisation for orphaned and street children battling drug abuse. The project seeks to provide participants with computer literacy and employable digital skills to help them reintegrate into society.

Samaira said the initiative was inspired by a meeting with Pastor Valentin, Director of REMAR Ghana. “We wanted to equip the boys with basic computer skills that could help them move away from drugs and into meaningful employment,” she explained.

Since its inception, Project REY has trained several boys in basic computing and employability skills. So far, eight participants have secured jobs in Ghana and Liberia, while twelve laptops have been donated to support the programme. The project has also attracted volunteer mentors from other schools across the country.

To sustain the initiative, Samaira partnered with technology firms in Ghana to design a practical curriculum that aligns with industry requirements. These partnerships have also created employment opportunities for successful trainees.

The Director of REMAR Ghana, Pastor Valentin, praised the initiative for its positive impact. “Thanks to Samaira’s initiative, I now have eight boys working in Ghana and Liberia. My boys now have hope and dreams of doing something meaningful with their lives. I am thankful to Samaira for her support,” he said.

Samaira has since extended the programme to REMAR Liberia and is working towards expanding it to other West African countries. She also organised a laptop donation drive in Accra to address equipment shortages.

The project, which combines training, mentorship, and community engagement, is expected to continue empowering disadvantaged youth to acquire skills for self-sufficiency and personal development.