Meet Deborah

Deborah grew up in Ghana's capital city, Accra. She completed primary school but her parents couldn’t afford to pay the fees for her secondary education. Without any qualifications, Deborah couldn't find a job or earn a steady income to support herself. Her future looked uncertain.

When staff from our partner organisation, Street Girls Aid, told Deborah about our tailoring project, she was thrilled. She went to live at the training centre with other young street connected women. The centre provided accommodation, meals and childcare, so Deborah and her classmates could concentrate on their training.

Deborah had no previous experience in sewing. At first, she was scared of the sewing machine, but she soon learned to measure, cut and construct skirts, blouses and dresses. She said:

Deborah completed a three month work placement and gained confidence dealing with customers. She learned basic business management skills, including profit and loss, book keeping and savings, and strategies for mitigating risk: she learned to make soap and liquid detergents so she could always have a product to sell between tailoring orders.

Deborah sat her training assessments and achieved a nationally recognised qualification to demonstrate her skills to customer and potential employers.

The Transition to Work

Deborah graduated from our Vocational Training project with her own sewing machine which was lovingly refurbished by Tools for Self Reliance volunteers. She started earning money by making and mending clothes for people in her community.

Last year, she joined our follow-on project, Transition to Work, to help graduates turn their theoretical knowledge into working businesses with guidance and mentorship along the way.

Deborah received a start up business grant which helped her secure a shop at Nsumia in the outskirts of Accra. She told us:

Deborah's business is growing as she attracts new business through referrals from satisfied customers. Deborah says she feels very happy, and she sees a bright future ahead.