WHY?
In rural regions of Ghana in particular, young women hardly get a job and are thus economically dependent on the men in the family. Instead of going to school at a young age, they often help in the household, look after their siblings, or help in the farm fields. With their own store, women could gain independence, more self-confidence, and an improved living situation.
HOW?
During the visit to Ghana in 2019, Annekatrin and Kofi planned the construction of a house for three commercial spaces to give women the chance to earn their own money. The first store to be built will be a water store with a delivery service; two more stores may follow later. Back in Berlin, the duo Annekatrin and Kofi got started right away. They bought two large refrigerators, a freezer, and containers to transport water from the fountain to the store.
Due to the Corona pandemic, the project was delayed. Thus, the store equipment had to be stored temporarily until the transport. Supporters Andrea Garkisch and Nils Dittrich spontaneously offered to store the refrigerators and freezers in their cellars. In 2022, the time had finally come: The building could be completed under the direction of Kofi and the necessary store equipment could start its journey to Ghana by sea freight.
Once again, Kofi’s brother Gmakanhyi Mahama supervised the handling of the sea freight container in the port of Tema, the onward transport to Techiman and the delivery. Without further ado, the water store was set up. The neighboring Gari factory became the first customer of the delivery service: Every day, several women deliver fresh drinking water for all the workers at the cassava flour factory. The cost of purchasing and shipping the store equipment was around 1,000 euros.
WHAT DID IT ACHIEVE?
- Clean drinking water for around 80 neighboring families.
- Clean drinking water for around 30 workers at the Gari factory.
- Economic independence and own income for three women
WHO?
- Annekatrin Jacobs
- Andrea Garkisch
- Nils Dittrich
- Kofi Mahama Ajima
- Gmakanhyi Mahama