The Vinyl and Artificial Grass Installer Training Programme is a livelihood security scheme that is meant to empower and nurture entrepreneurial young women in the rapidly changing and competitive world. It is an offered initiative by Edugha Institute for Social Development (EISD), in collaboration with Modern Floors. It draws from the WEE-NORTH project sponsored by Global Affairs Canada through the Alinea Foundation, which focuses on inculcating industrial trades skills in young women in the northern part of Ghana, to equip them with the necessary capacity that ensures their self-dependence as young women in the male dominated society.
After undergoing a carefully planned selection process, a slot for the second cohort was ready and accommodated eighteen (18) young women, four from Wa in the Upper West region, four from Gushegu in the Northern region, four from Salaga in the Savana region, five from Tamale in the Northern region and one from Bolga in the Upper East region, who have successfully completed a 12-week vinyl and artificial grass installer training course and successfully graduated on the 25th January, 2024. The training programme offered a wide range of skills development and entrepreneurship courses which now serve as vital leveraging tools for these young women. It entailed the vinyl and Artificial Grass Installer Training (Theory and Practical), the Empowerment and Soft-Skills Training, the 360 Degree Industrial Attachment, final Practical Sessions and Advocacy.
Finally, we have eighteen (18) professional vinyl and artificial grass installers having received their certificates and transitioned to the field of real work. They performed greatly during this training, and EISD especially, expects immaculate service delivery from them going forward.
The training programme was initiated last year on Monday 12th June, 2023, admitted twenty (20) young women representing the first cohort of the training programme, who successfully completed the 12-week training and graduated. This has seen tremendous feedbacks not only from the previous beneficiaries, but also, from the WEE-NORTH project management. As such, EISD was given another opportunity to train more young women, introducing the second cohort of eighteen (18) young women again for the programme. Their training started off on Monday 23rd October, 2023. They were taken through the above mentioned sessions, which 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 Training programme and design, all eighteen young women were provided with Start-up packs just like their predecessors, to enable them better learn their craft and be ready to be independent tradeswomen after graduation. They 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
• Four (4) of them managing our Wa Showroom in the Upper West region and handling all installation services required.
• One (1) of them managing our Bolga Showroom in the Upper East region and handling all installation services required.
• Five (5) in Tamale managing our Showroom and handling all installations required.
• Four (4) in Gushegu managing our Showroom and handling all installations required.
• One (1) in Yendi managing our Showroom and handling all installations required.
• Three (3) in Salaga managing our Showroom and handling all installations required.
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, just as their seniors, 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.
