Koforidua: The Dare to Dream initiative, implemented under the Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Programme, has spotlighted youth-driven solutions to community challenges at a grassroots exhibition held in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital. The programme, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Mastercard Foundation, focuses on empowering persons with disabilities (PWDs) and women in rural communities through innovations in health, education, agriculture, climate resilience, and technology.
According to Ghana News Agency, organisers expressed their commitment to identifying and registering 300 youth innovators across the Eastern Region. Ms. Hannatu Kobiah, Programme Manager of Dare to Dream, stated that the YAI Programme focuses on empowering persons with disabilities (PWDs) and women in rural communities in key areas such as health, education, agriculture, climate resilience, and technology. She was speaking in an interview with the agency at the Grassroot Exhibition for Innovators in Eastern Region held at Koforidua. The event was themed ‘Empowering grassroots innovations for sustainable development in the Eastern Region.’
The Young Africa Innovates Programme is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding by the Mastercard Foundation. Mr. Edmund Agbeve, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of Dare to Dream, noted that young people are addressing critical challenges in their communities using local resources such as coconut husk to produce footwear and charcoal, plantain stem for wiglet. He emphasized that these innovations serve as a vehicle for economic empowerment and that funders are ready to invest in the youth-led initiatives.
Mr. Agbeve urged PWDs to indulge themselves in the available opportunities to lessen their financial burden. Mr. Jude Kwegyir-Aggrey from UNDP mentioned that the Young Africa Innovates collaborates with government, grassroots organizations, the private sector, and key stakeholders to identify and nurture the innovations of women, especially persons with disabilities and youth in rural areas.
The Grassroot Exhibition for Innovators also provided an opportunity for panel discussions and questions from participants. The event featured panel discussions and interactive sessions with participants, including students from Koforidua Technical University, Kpong Technical Institute, and Effiduase Technical Institute. Representatives from the Ghana Enterprise Agency, National Youth Authority (NYA), and Eastern Tech Hub were also present.
Exhibits included a local drying machine by MADEX-D, coconut husk footwear by Bigfoot Sole Mate Limited, and banana stem wiglets by Lis Johnson Enterprise.