PureTrust Foundation supports young women with smock-weaving machines

By Samuel SAM

PureTrust Foundation LBG, a non-profit organisation dedicated to livelihood enhancement and community development, has empowered 29 young women in the Northern Region with smock-weaving machines and materials to promote skills training and economic inclusion.

The support, extended to the Wuntira Weavers Association in Zujung community, forms part of efforts to provide disadvantaged groups, particularly rural women, with vocational training and start-up materials for self-reliance and sustainable income generation.

With backing from Vibrant Village Foundation (VVF) and partners, the initiative has trained 29 young women in smock hand-weaving and sewing skills under the certification of the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI). Of these, seven have received start-up support to establish their own enterprises, including linkages to financial institutions for credit access, while the remaining 22 have secured sustainable employment.

The initiative coincided with a visit to Tamale by VVF Board Member, Eric Brehn, who said the programme was in line with the foundation’s commitment to systemic change and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) acceleration. He stressed that supporting young apprentices would help build their future and alleviate poverty.

VVF, he noted, targets vulnerable populations in the Northern and Upper West Regions through integrated interventions on livelihoods, food security and gender equality. He added that 87 percent of its grant partners were indigenous organisations in 2023, with 93 percent receiving unrestricted funding to enable flexible responses to community needs.

Chief Executive Officer of PureTrust Foundation, Habib Haruna, explained that the support was part of broader efforts to promote gender protection and economic empowerment among smock weavers.

“Due to financial barriers, we provide apprentices who have completed three years of training with start-up kits, including looms, threads, dyes, fabrics and tools to enable them to begin their businesses and build resilience,” he said.

Mr. Haruna added that smock weaving not only preserves cultural heritage but also contributes to women’s financial independence, with products sold both locally and internationally. He urged the beneficiaries to form groups to better access future support and scale up their businesses.

Representing the beneficiaries, Hardi Nihad and Issah Salima expressed gratitude to PureTrust Foundation and VVF, noting that the intervention had reduced the financial burden on families and created job opportunities for young women in their communities. “It has also prevented many girls from migrating south in search of jobs, while school dropouts have benefitted from skill acquisition,” they said.

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