The Akua Owusu Afriyieh Foundation : Empowering Women And Girls In Ghana
The Akua Owusu Afriyieh Foundation (AOA) is an NGO that is dedicated to providing holistic support and succor to women, the girl child, and other vulnerable groups in the Ablekuma North Constituency of Accra, Ghana. Since its establishment in 2017, the foundation has made significant strides in promoting socio-economic development, creating sustainable livelihoods, and providing access to education for those in need.
One of the core missions of the AOA is to help the girl child gain access to quality education. To achieve this, the foundation has implemented a child support scheme that promotes the education and well-being of girls in the constituency. Through this scheme, the foundation provides financial support, school supplies, and mentorship to girls to ensure that they have equal access to education.
In addition to education, the AOA also provides means of sustainable livelihood to women through job creation, skill acquisition, and interest-free loan schemes. Petty traders’ empowerment schemes have been created to provide capital support for businesses, which helps to create sustainable livelihoods for women. Widows are also provided with bread making, soap making, and other livelihood skills, as well as cash support and cloth and groceries, to help them become more self-sufficient.
The socio-economic improvement of widows is central to the aims of the AOA, and the foundation has created a widower and widows scheme to provide socio-economic support to this group. The foundation also has an aged scheme that provides support and requisite care for older citizens, improving their lives in areas of access to healthcare and social inclusion.
The Akua Owusu Afriyieh Foundation (AOA) has made significant strides in improving the lives of women, the girl child, and vulnerable groups in the Ablekuma North Constituency and beyond. The Foundation is the brainchild of Hon. Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, a visionary leader dedicated to providing holistic support and succor to these groups of people.
Since its establishment in 2017, the AOA Foundation has touched the lives of thousands of people in the Ablekuma North Constituency, where it operates primarily. The foundation serves as an advocacy mouthpiece for women and the girl-child and seeks to generate every relevant support required to improve the lot of these groups in society.
One of the primary focuses of the Foundation is to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for women through job creation, skill acquisition, and interest-free loan schemes. The foundation also seeks to help the girl child gain access to quality education. This is achieved through the Foundation’s child support scheme, which promotes education and well-being for girls.
In addition, the AOA Foundation provides socio-economic support to widows and widowers, as well as the elderly. The Foundation’s widower and widow schemes provide a means of socio-economic support to these vulnerable groups, while the aged scheme provides requisite care for older citizens to improve their lives in areas of access to healthcare and social inclusion.
Every month, the AOA Foundation distributes a package containing cash, groceries, and other essentials to women and girls in the constituency to improve their lives and that of their dependents. The Foundation also provides widows with bread-making, soap-making, and other livelihood skills, as well as cash support and cloth and groceries.
The Founder, Hon. Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh
Impact
The impact of the AOA Foundation’s work is evident in the testimonials of beneficiaries. One widow, Mrs. Adwoa Amankwah, shared her story of how the Foundation’s support helped her start a business and provide for her family. “Before the AOA Foundation, I had lost hope. I was struggling to make ends meet and take care of my children. But the Foundation gave me a loan to start a business, and now I can provide for my family and even pay for my children’s school fees.”
Similarly, a widower, Mr. Kwame Owusu, expressed gratitude for the Foundation’s support. “I lost my wife a few years ago, and life became very difficult for me. But the AOA Foundation provided me with support and skills training, and now I can take care of myself and my family.”
The impact of the AOA Foundation extends to the girl-child beneficiaries as well. A young girl, Ama Asantewaa, shared how the Foundation’s child support scheme has helped her stay in school. “Before the AOA Foundation, my parents could not afford to pay for my school fees, and I had to drop out. But the Foundation provided me with support, and now I can continue my education.”
The dedication of the founder, Hon. Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, to improving the Ablekuma North Constituency and the larger society through opportunities for women, the girl child, and all vulnerable persons, is commendable. Her vision to provide holistic support and succor to these groups has been achieved through the impactful work of the AOA Foundation. The Foundation’s commitment to improving the lives of the vulnerable in society is evident, and it serves as an inspiration to all.
The future
Looking to the future, the AOA remains committed to its mission of empowering women, the girl child, and other vulnerable groups in the Ablekuma North Constituency. With the support of its partners and donors, the foundation aims to create even greater impact in the years ahead. By breaking down barriers and transforming the lives of those in need, the AOA is making a significant contribution to the development of Ghana as a whole.
In conclusion, the Akua Owusu Afriyieh Foundation is a shining example of an NGO that is making a real difference in the lives of those it serves. Through its programs, the foundation is providing access to education, creating sustainable livelihoods, and promoting socio-economic development. As it continues to grow and expand, the AOA has the potential to make an even greater impact in the years ahead, improving the lives of women, girls, and other vulnerable groups in Ghana and beyond.
Source :Samuel Owusu-Aduomi
