Highlighting Project Yage’s Influence
Article Author: Gerard Lapuente from Raices Foundation
Project YAGE Interviewee: Oumou Hani Zakaria — CEO and Founder
In another collective effort to highlight other nonprofit organizations, the Raices Foundation is eager to introduce an interview with Oumou Hani Zakaria, the CEO and Founder of Project YAGE. Project YAGE stands for Project Young African Girls Empowerment, a testament to the organization’s dedication to making a difference for young girls in Togo.
Background and Inspiration
Oumou’s personal experiences growing up inspired the creation of this initiative. Witnessing the challenges faced by her peers, including early pregnancies, forced marriages, and financial barriers to education, Oumou created the program in hopes that it would empower young girls in her community.
“This project is designed for young African girls; however, because we are a fairly new organization with a finite budget, we decided to target young Togolese girls,” Oumou explains. “Togo is a small country in West Africa. I was born and raised in Lomé, the capital city of Togo. Growing up in Lomé, I have witnessed many things that I promised myself to change when I grow up.”
Oumou shares her experiences of witnessing friends getting expelled from school due to early pregnancy, being forced into marriage, or having to work as house help because their parents couldn’t afford their school fees. “Lomé, like any capital city, is a vibrant place where everyone hopes to make it. However, as young women/girls, many fall into traps that completely ruin their lives. I chose this project of empowering young girls in Lomé for obvious reasons. It is the place I grew up in, where I saw firsthand how young girls struggle to provide for themselves and where I could have become one of the victims.”
Programming
Project YAGE provides a comprehensive vocational training program for young girls to learn practical and entrepreneurial skills. The program collaborates with four vocational schools across Lomé, training in:
Tailoring: Two workshops concentrating on tailoring skills.
Hairdressing: Two workshops focusing on hairdressing.
Each workshop accommodates a maximum of five girls, ensuring personalized engagement and efficient training. In addition to vocational skills, the program includes supplemental classes in feminine hygiene, computer literacy, and entrepreneurship.
“The total apprenticeship lasts three years, followed by an additional three years where graduates stay and teach the next batch of girls,” says Oumou. “We also have an alumni mentoring system to help empower the girls to stand up against child marriage and other societal pressures.”
Impact and Outcomes
Since its launch in December 2019, Project YAGE has helped the lives of young girls in Lomé. Despite challenges, including a retention rate affected by early marriages and pregnancies, the initiative has seen notable success.
“Since launching, we have welcomed 17 girls and successfully graduated 13,” Oumou shares. “Our graduates have acquired not only revenue-generating skills but also self-confidence, feminine hygiene knowledge, entrepreneurship skills, and computer literacy. They are now running their own shops and providing for themselves and their families.”
How to Support and Get Involved
Project YAGE welcomes support and involvement from the global community. There are several ways to contribute:
Join the e-board as an active or passive member, participating in meetings and decision-making or providing financial support.
Volunteer or intern to manage social media or support on the ground in Togo with courses on feminine hygiene, basic computer knowledge, and entrepreneurship.
“Our initiative thrives on the support of members and volunteers,” emphasizes Oumou. “There are many ways to get involved and make a difference.”
Collaborating for Greater Impact
In a collaborative effort, Raices Foundation, Project YAGE, and Stitching Talents will unite forces for a Fall project in Togo. Raices Foundation’s COO, Astrid Vargas, met the founders of these organizations during her time as an undergraduate student at Union College. There, she created a strong bond with Oumou and Stitching Talents’ Founder Emmanuela “Ella” Oppong, which would inspire this upcoming collective project’s conception. The project aims to extend training and community support initiatives by opening a library in Togo, leveraging the strengths and resources of all three organizations to create a broader impact in West Africa.
For more information on this collaboration and how to best support these efforts, visit Stitching Talents, Raices Foundation, and Young African Girls Empowerment.
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