‘FREE EDUCATION HAS GIVEN MY CHILDREN THE CHANCE TO GROW’

Faustina Ofori Tawiah, mother and cocoa farmer

Since 2008, the ASUNAFO-North cooperative in Goaso, Ghana, has been supporting its affiliated cocoa farmers with various sustainability projects. One of these projects is the establishment of a metalworking training program in collaboration with Gered Gereedschap and the Chocolonely Foundation, where 75 underprivileged youths from the cocoa farming community are trained each year.

Many members of the cooperative, who are full-time farmers, lack the financial means to send their children to school after regular classes. As a result, children often end up working on the farm or staying at home until the family can afford it, usually through a bank loan or by selling part of the farmland as collateral to cover education expenses. Faustina Ofori Tawiah, a proud mother and farmer, has benefited from the program: ‘My children used to work on our cocoa farm, and it was a struggle to get them to school. This project has significantly eased that burden. Knowing that my children can now attend school for free is a huge relief. I am grateful for the opportunities this initiative has provided, allowing me to focus on my other children and improving the overall well-being of our family.’

‘My children can now repair broken equipment around our home. It’s such a relief not having to pay for repairs, and even more, people from our community now come to them for help. It fills my heart with joy and pride to see how their skills are being recognized by the community. The fact that the program is free has made a huge difference for families like mine. It has opened doors for our children that were previously closed due to financial constraints.’