Vinyl Tiles & Artificial Grass Graduation The Story of 20 Young Women_ eisd wee-north alinea foundation

Vinyl Tiles & Artificial Grass Graduation: The Story of 20 Young Women

by Training

Following our partnership with Alinea Foundation through their project WEENORTH, a 12 week Vinyl and Artificial Grass training programme was launched on the 12th of June, 2023. After 12 weeks, a graduation ceremony was organized on 12th of September, 2023 for Twenty Young Women; five from the Upper East region, five from the Upper West region and ten from the Northern region.

The broad goal for conducting the training was to WEE-North’s mission of advancing gender equity and promoting decent work in the male-dominated industrial trades sector.

As part of the Training programme, all twenty young women were provided with Startup packs to enable them better learn their craft and be ready to be independent tradeswomen after graduation.

The Training Programme had the following components; the Vinyl and Artificial Grass Installer Training (Theory and Practicals), the Empowerment and Soft Skills Training, the 360 Degree Industrial Attachment, final Practical Sessions and advocacy.

The young women were taken through both theory and practical sessions of the Vinyl Tiles and Artificial Grass.

These sessions were tailor-made to ensure that young women are able to appreciate the market niche and take full advantage of the niche. Their understanding of the product, site preparation, estimations and costing as well as the financial benefits of the products, both vinyl and artificial grass, is remarkable.

As part of the programme design, the young women had a number of empowerment sessions to enable them to have a good appreciation of the gender issues at stake and know they can thrive in male-dominated trades. They were also taken through a number of soft skills training sessions to equip them with the essential tools to make a difference along their professional journeys.

This was followed by the 360 Degree Industrial Attachment. The 360 Degree Industrial Attachment aimed to provide young girls with a practical glimpse into their future post-training. This phase followed their empowerment program and allowed them to put their acquired knowledge into practice. It commenced with marketing Vinyl Tiles and Artificial Grass in Tamale’s Central Business District, extending to engaging with people on the main streets. Regular review sessions were conducted to evaluate the outcomes and lessons learned from these interactions with the public and potential businesses.

Additional field visits focused on proper site preparation before product installation then followed. To complete the experience, participants conducted further field visits in their home regions, scouting potential clients and intensifying the marketing efforts for Vinyl and Artificial Grass.

More practical sessions followed during the last fortnight of the 12-week programme. The trainees dedicated themselves to further refining their installation skills for Vinyl and Artificial Grass. With several clients having already commissioned installation projects, this period provided an excellent opportunity for these women to showcase their craftsmanship. In total, each young woman successfully completed installations covering no less than 100 square meters of Vinyl Tiles and a portion of artificial grass. This intensive practice allowed them to sharpen and firm-up their abilities in estimating, executing installations, achieving impeccable finishes, and delivering exceptional customer service.

THE WAY FORWARD

At EISD, we are very particular about each of the young women and we are happy to have a 100% job placement rate. We would have

• 5 of them managing our Upper West Showroom and handling all installation services required

• 5 of them managing our Upper East Showroom and handling all installation services required

• 2 in Tamale managing our Showroom and handling all installations required

• 2 in Yendi managing our Showroom and handling all installations required

• 2 in Damongo managing our Showroom and handling all installations required

• 2 in Techiman managing our Showroom and handling all installations required

• 2 of the young women are being engaged by Alinea Foundation in the Eastern region.

We are proud to say that the 12-week Training Programme has been a transformative journey for these young women, offering them valuable insights into self-discovery, teamwork, self-reliance, and self-belief. Beyond acquiring essential skills that empower them to achieve financial independence, they have emerged as shining beacons of inspiration for numerous other young women aspiring to thrive in traditionally male-dominated trades.

WEE-NORTH

We are grateful to WEE-NORTH for financing this project. WEE-NORTH is a five-year (2020-2025) project funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by Alinea Foundation in Northern Ghana. We are equally grateful to Modern Floors Ghana for providing the technical know-how.

The young women have the world at their feet, and it behoves on all of us to support them. Their journey has only just begun.

Photos_ Eisd_ Neip Start-Up Selection Train for N_R

Photos: EISD – NEIP Start-Up Selection Train for N/R

by NEWSSustainable E-Hub

After a hectic week of meeting many entrepreneurs, young and old, male and female alike, from pregnant women to nursing mothers and physically challenged, the EISD-NEIP Startup Acceleration Selection Train has covered all the districts in northern region across the three zones. The week has not only been successful but all the more insightful.

In all, we received a total of 568 applications and shortlisted 270 applicants for interviews across the three zones. 237 of the shortlisted applicants turned up for interviews and pitching, with 132 (56%) being females and 105 (44%) being males. There were 5 physically challenged applicants across the zones.

The businesses were in Agricultural services, Agribusiness and Processing, ICT, Energy, Education, Green Industries, Beauty and Personal Care, Hospitality, Water and Sanitation, Health, Clothing, and Accessories.

All of these applicants are out there breaking their backs trying to make a living; doing their very best to be relevant and make a difference in one way or another.

After sifting through all the interviews and business ideas presented, the team would be selecting the finalists to face off at the Regional Pitch Competition in a fortnight.

Stay tuned for more details on that.

Below are pictures across the zones.

Photos

EISD NEIP HUB ACCELERATION PROGRAMME START UP ACCELERATION PRESS LAUNCH

Photos & Full Press Release: EISD-NEIP’s Start-Up Acceleration Programme in N/R

by NEWS

  • The Edugha Institute for Social Development & National Entrepreneurship Innovation Programme (NEIP) with funding from the World Bank through the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday 27th June2023 launched the Start-Up Acceleration Programme for the Northern Region of Ghana.
  • This programme comes under the Hub Acceleration Grant Programme, of which EISD is a beneficiary.
  • The launch took place in our workspace in Tamale, with various media houses and key individuals in attendance.
  • The press release was delivered by the Deputy CEO of EISD, Mr. Bilal Taimako Shamsudeen, with Mr. Mahadi Alhassan (CEO of EISD) providing answers to ensuing questions from attendees. Ms. Sauda Belko delivered the introductory words to kick-start the event.
  • Below are photos from the event and the full press release.

Press Release

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, officials from the NEIP, National Youth Authority, Assembly men and women, our partners Tradeline Consults, Banks present, Entrepreneurship Ecosystem stakeholders present, Colleagues from EISD, Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning and welcome to the Press Launch of the EISD-NEIP Start Up Acceleration Support Programme under the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme – NEIP Hubs Acceleration Grant Programme (HAGP), under Ghana Economic Transformation Project.

The Ghana Economic Transformation Project has four (4) components, and NEIP’s programmes fall under Component 3 of the project, of which EISD is a beneficiary of.

The component 3 supports entrepreneurship and SME growth in non-resource-based sectors, and it is aimed at addressing the limited development of the SME and entrepreneurship support ecosystem, including early-stage financing to promote and strengthen a growth model that is conducive to economic transformation, to achieve higher rates of investment and productivity growth across the economy, especially in non-resource-based sectors. The EISD-NEIP Start-Ups Acceleration Programme which we are launching now is a Programme designed to support the development of the entrepreneurship ecosystem by building the capacities of startups and existing businesses in the northern region to help their business ideas and services thrive. The Startups will be supported to see their business ideas become operational.

Our programme will see us group the various startups and businesses into three zones; the Bimbilla zone (which should take care of the Eastern corridor block including Yendi, Gusheigu, Karaga, Wulensi, Bimbilla, Kpandai, Chamba, etc); the Tolon Zone (which would include the Kumbungu, Nyankpala, Tolon, Savelugu environs) and the Sagnarigu zone (which would include Sagnarigu, Tamale and its immediate environs).

The Start-Up Acceleration Programme will competitively select a number of startups in these zones which will be provided with technical assistance, capacity building and financial assistance to accelerate their ideas and operationalize them.

With the Ghanaian start-up landscape seeing tremendous growth over the last decade, we cannot help but provide competitive, tailor-made solutions to startups in our catchment area. This is made possible by our collaboration with the Government of Ghana through the NEIP Hubs Acceleration Grant Program [HAGP]. With this, we are not only upgrading our Hub Space by increasing our seating capacity as a hub from 20 to 70 with the construction of 50-seater multipurpose Training and Conference Center, we are also upgrading our facilities. We are also better positioned to support more startups, as we are seeing with this Startup launch.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

We are, by this launch, opening a call for Applications for the EISD-NEIP Start Up Acceleration Programme. This Call is opened to all Startups and businesses in the northern region. Prospective Applicants can go on our website, www.eisdgh.org from

Wednesday, 28th June 2023 to apply. The Application link for the call will also be available on all EISD Social media platforms.

The closing date for the Application will be Monday 10th July 2023.

The Startup Programme will be focused on ideas and businesses operating in the following sectors:

Agriculture, technology & innovation, Light manufacturing & processing, waste & green businesses, and technical and vocational ideas as well as any idea/innovation that is directed at improving the quality of life of our people. We encourage the active participation of women, youth and persons with disability in the grant programme.

The qualification criteria for applicants are as follows:

  1. Ownership must be 100% Ghanaian.
  2. Startups should be in the northern region.
  3. Must be ready and willing to undergo rigorous training schedules and other activities of the programme.

PROCESS FLOW FOR GRANT PROGRAMME:

  1. We will start with the Call for Applications
  2. Screening of applications
  3. Conduct Due Diligence
  4. The committee reviews, evaluates and approves, defer or decline applicants’ request using the established eligibility and selection criteria.
  5. Organize zonal business pitches
  6. Screening to select finalists from all zones to enter the Accelerator
  7. Final pitching to select top startups.
  8. Disbursements and monitoring of funds based on agreed implementation plan with beneficiaries
  9. Provide one year of mentoring and coaching while undertaking periodic monitoring and audits to ensure compliance and use of funds for right purposes.

Acknowledgements:

  • I’ll first thank the NEIP team, the World Bank, the team from the Ministry of Finance, the team from Delloitte for making this possible.
  • Thanks to the project Team from EISD
  • Thank our partners Tradeline Consults, North TV, among others.
  • We would also want to thank all ecosystem players present, the media and everybody present.

Finally, we thank H.E the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for his continuous support for the growth of Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, for his various interventions to ignite and unleash the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of young people in a bid to mark conscious departure from job seeking to job creation and job ownership

With these said, I have the singular honour to formally declare the EISD-NEIP Startup Support Programme LAUNCHED.

Thank you very much for your attention.

Bilal Taimako Shamsudden

Photos

EISD begins renovation works after receiving NEIP Hubs Acceleration Grant

EISD begins renovation works after receiving NEIP Hubs Acceleration Grant

by NEWS

As one of the beneficiaries of the $7 million NEIP Hubs Acceleration Grant Programme under the Ghana Economic Transformation Project-GETP, expansion, renovation, refurbishing, and restructuring works have begun in earnest to give our hub the needed facelift and also increase our training capacity from 20 to 70. This includes but is not limited to IT support, greening, and Ideas Space expansion among others.

Ghana Economic Transformation Project has four (4) components, and NEIP’s programmes fall under Component 3 of the project.
Component 3 supports entrepreneurship and SME growth in non-resource-based sectors, and it is aimed at addressing the limited development of the SME and entrepreneurship support ecosystem, including early-stage financing to promote and strengthen a growth model that is conducive to economic transformation, to achieve higher rates of investment and productivity growth across the economy, especially in non-resource-based sectors.

At EISD we believe creating a platform for businesses and people to develop their capacities and see their businesses and ideas thrive is the way to go.

Photos of ongoing works

EISD-WEENORTH Training to Employment Program eisdgh.org

EISD, Wee-North Training to Employment Programme

by Training

EDUGHA Institute for Social Development is happy to be contributing to training young women under the Wee-North Project with funding from Global Affairs Canada.

Economic empowerment for young women in non-traditional industrial trades provides not only a source of livelihood for these women, but the rippling effect of this cannot be overstated.

As a partner of Alinea International, we are committed to delivering this training for young girls in Vinyl Tiles and Artificial Grass Installation. We deliver this training in a holistic approach that ensures that young women are able to move from novices to entrepreneurs as soon as practical.

Twenty girls, 10 from the northern region and 5 each from the Upper East and Upper West regions, are not only the first girls to undergo this training but actually, the first team to undergo the Vinyl Training in Northern Ghana.

The program would be a three-month-long training. The girls would go through three weeks of practical and theory sessions, which would include soft skills training to help the girls transition to the world of work. The soft skills training include knowing yourself, what is holding you back from being an Entrepreneur, Understanding the business environment in Ghana, Kaizen Principles, social media, your business, basics of marketing, etc.

This would be followed by a two-month 360 Degree Attachment, which allows them to commercialize their craft. This would involve field practice engagements, marketing and sales of the Vinyl and AstroTurf products, etc. Upon completion of this three-month program, the girls would be ready for the world of work.

EISD is partnering MODERN FLOORS to deliver the hard skills component of the training. MODERN FLOORS® is a UK-trademarked flooring brand which wholesales & retails the Best Quality Affordable Artificial Carpet Grass , AstroTurf , Vinyl(PVC/SPC) Tiles(LVT), Carpet Tiles , Adhesives and other indoor and outdoor flooring products used for both Residential & Commercial spaces.

The program is a journey we are all happy to be part of. We all have a role to play. Let’s support our young women in any way we can because they too can and they will.

EISD benefits from NEIP's GETP Project

EISD benefits from NEIP’s GETP Project

by NEWS

Edugha Institute for Social Development – EISD is glad to have been selected as part of the beneficiary Hubs after a very competitive application process by the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme-NEIP Hubs Acceleration Grant Programme under the Ghana Economic Transformation Project-GETP with the support of the Ministry of Finance with funding from the World Bank Africa.

The Hubs Grant Programme will support the development of the entrepreneurship ecosystem which Edugha Institute for Social Development is part of, by building our capacities to bring the quality of our services up to international standards.

Our Hub will be supported to run programmes, that would benefit firms and startups within our communities.

The Grant Contract Signing Ceremony was held at the Labadi Beach Hotel on Thursday, 8th June 2023.

Eisd and Modern Floors Vinyl Tiles and Green Grass Carpet Installation training in Tamae Register

Register now: EISD & Modern Floors Vinyl Tiles and Carpet Grass Training in Tamale

by Training

Intro

The EduGha Institute for Social Development (EISD) is looking to train interested people in the installation of Vinyl Tiles and Carpet Grass.

This is an opportunity to upgrade your knowledge or learn a new trade.

The training is taking place at our Tamale office at Gumani, Tamale.

Collaboration

The training is in collaboration and will lead by Modern Floors (Ghana).

Modern Floors is the World’s most recognized UK-trademarked supplier and retailers of ARTIFICIAL CARPET GRASS & VINYL (PVC/SPC) TILES (LVT).

Register

If you are interested in learning about this economically viable trade, call 0200170173 to register.

EISD AND MODERN FLOORS TRAINING IN VINYL TILES AND CARPET GRASS INSTALLATION
2

NEIP Visits EISD Tamale Office

by NEWS
Officials from National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme-NEIP and Deloitte visited the EDUGHA Institute for Social Development to discuss our specialized activities, especially that of our Sustainable E-Hub. This was part of the due diligence phase of the Hubs Acceleration Grant Programme supported by the World Bank.
The exercise was to confirm the nature and extent of our training activities, and also to allow for more engagements on the direction our E-Hub is taking in Northern Ghana and beyond.
As a team, this visit not only encourages us but also strengthens our resolve in being a leader in the Ecosystem as well as creating platforms for people, communities and businesses to thrive.