Skills training for women, from the Fairtrade Premium

I sometimes get overwhelmed by all people I meet and all new things I see and trying to settle in this new place - which results in few blogposts, sorry for that..

Two weekends ago, us at the WAFN office were invited to attend an activity funded by the Fairtrade Premium! It was the banan plantation VREL that on the initiative of the women organizer (Patience, the lady in the background in the photo) arranged a skills training in

 making of meatpies and cakes.

In Ghana, even if men often are the main breadwinner, the women often need additional resources outside their own salary to cover for the needs of the family. Therefor this training was suggested so that interested female workers could learn how to make pies and cakes, and therefor get some small income. This is important especially during the times of the year when the work at the plantation might be less, but the need for money still is there in the lives of the women.

The invited trainer, went through the process of making small meat pies, advicing the workers on good and bad ingredients to use (cabbage and fresh tomatoes makes the pie go bad fast, while canned meat is ok). Recipies were handed out and people got to try how to mix the ingredients, and of course try the pie aswell..

Attending the training, the english speaking Liaison Officer Ernest also explained in detail what the Fairtrade Premium is, and how it can be used, and also saying that this training 

was one of the first of its kind in Ghana! (Since it focused especially on women and involved building of skills)

The next step will be for the women to get the ingredients and get started! Hopefully the majority of the ladies who attended felt that they could use this new knowledge.

Below is a photo of the participants during a break