United Way Ghana
Founded in 2003, United Way Ghana (UWG) is devoted to addressing poverty and making real social impact within local communities in three focus areas: education, health and income generation (financial stability).
UWG has structured its programs to maximize its impact on children having access to quality education, young adults being empowered to attain their full potential, and adults becoming financially stable. This is helping UWG build community resilience by bringing long lasting solutions to bear on the most pressing community issues, promoting equity, and harnessing the use of innovation and technology in addressing societal challenges.
Janet Butler
P&G Alumni Grant Champion
Janet Butler
26 years in P&G Engineering and Product Supply in the U.S. and Nigeria
Janet Butler had a stellar career at P&G that included an assignment in Nigeria. She found a new passion during her time there, and is currently Vice-President for United Way-Africa as well as a sponsor for UWG. She’s been involved with the organization for more than 17 years and has helped the organization transform and significantly increase its impact.
“United Way Ghana has moved from a charitable organization to an impact organization convening community stakeholders to address local problems. In its short tenure, United Way Ghana has impacted thousands of lives across Ghana, improving educational outcomes for vulnerable children, providing opportunities for financial stability to countless families, and most importantly giving Ghanaians from all walks of life the opportunity to give, volunteer and advocate for the success of their communities.” Janet Butler
The target beneficiaries for the project are unemployed or underemployed young men and women in Akropong who are struggling to generate adequate income to support themselves and their families. Youth are ready to work but job opportunities are limited.
Efforts include:
Literacy and numeracy training to enable reading, writing and communicating in basic English.
Leadership and soft skills training that helps develop an entrepreneurial personality.
Vocational training such as soap & detergent making, beads making, batik dyeing, pastries making, production of local non-alcoholic drinks, etc.
Business management training (basic book-keeping, basic marketing) required to run small scale businesses successfully.
The $25,000 grant will be used to train 50+ young men and women with leadership, business development, and entrepreneurial skills while financially supporting them to successfully set-up and run small scale businesses. Participants will be taught to develop business plans, register their businesses, and execute against those business plans with the support of business coaches to address identified challenges. They hope to create 100 jobs and help 250 family and community members.
UWG also received P&G Alumni Foundation awards in 2009 ($14,000) and 2020 ($19,000).
(Click the UWG link to hear a thank you from Janet Butler)
“Graduating Means My Own Business”
“I always had a problem with supporting my family due to the lack of a job. With the introduction of United Way Ghana’s Socio-Economic Development Program and my being selected as the beneficiary, I have been trained in vocational skills like soapmaking, batik tie-dye, and baking. I have graduated and received a starter pack to start my own small business.”
Ayishetu – UWG Graduate