YEA initiates ‘Make Fashion Inclusive’ to empower PWDs through skills training – Nsemkeka
The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has commissioned a training hub in Kumasi under a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) through skills training and sustainable employment in the fashion industry.
The “Make Fashion Inclusive” program is aimed at promoting dignity, opportunity, and economic independence for the disabled community in Ghana.
Under a partnership with the “Invest for Jobs” initiative of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the program will provide intensive training in fashion design, embroidery, beading, and millinery to 100 individuals with disabilities.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency, Malik Basintale, the hub marks the opening of doors not just to training, but to independence, creativity, and long-term livelihood.
“Inclusion is not an act of charity, but a matter of justice and a way to go,” he emphasised. “We recognise that not everyone has the same starting point in life, and unfortunately, many are excluded from employment opportunities simply because of a disability”.
Mr Basintale underscored the importance of skills-based training in today’s job market, pointing out that many employers now prioritise practical skills in addition to formal qualifications.
“Skills are portable as they go with you wherever you are. That’s why initiatives like this are not just charitable gestures, they are investments in human capital,” he noted.
He assured that similar hubs will be launched across other regions in Ghana, expanding the reach and impact of the initiative nationwide.
The National Secretary of the association of the physically disabled, Elizabeth Emmanuella Nimoh, applauded the initiative for its impact on the lives of street-dwelling individuals with disabilities.
She acknowledged that the training has offered a means of escaping difficult situations to many who once relied on begging for survival.
“What excites me the most is seeing people who were previously on the streets now learning a skill that is life-changing,” she said.
However, she raised several logistical concerns affecting participants, including the high cost of transportation for wheelchair users and other trainees coming from distant districts.
She proposed that the Agency consider providing accommodation and daily meals to ease the burden and allow participants to fully focus on their training.
“Most of us come from various parts of the region, and the transport costs are beyond our means. It would help greatly if the Agency could provide accommodation and meals,” she urged.
In response to these concerns, Mr. Basintale noted that while the project is still in its early stages, the Agency views such feedback as potential challenges, not setbacks.
“We haven’t even paid the first incentive, how do you ask for an increment on incentives. These are potential challenges, and we are going to provide potential solutions as time passes,” he explained.
He added that the Agency is committed to offering support tools that will enable these individuals to build businesses, employ others, and impact their communities.
Team Leader for GIZ, John Duti, emphasised that the organisation is committed to creating decent jobs in partnership with the private sector, including opportunities for the disabled.
“This is not a funfair. We are dedicated to using our resources to make sure no one is left behind,” he said. “Our inclusive strategy ensures that persons with disabilities are part of every intervention.”
He confirmed that this program is one of many that GIZ has supported, all to make employment accessible and inclusive.