From Fields to Fuses: Charles’ Journey to Empowerment

By: Kennedy Amponsah-Cheremeh

Project Officer – Reading Improvement and Skills Enhancement

Charles, a-22 years old adolescent, reflects the power of resilience and the beauty of rising through adversity. After completing Senior High School, his dreams of furthering his education were abruptly halted by the death of his father. 

With poverty tightening its grip and a visually impaired mother to care for, Charles had no choice than to go into farming (growing maize, cassava, and ginger), not for profit, but for survival.

For three long years, Charles toiled in the fields, hoping to save enough to return to school, but his earnings could barely feed him and his mother. His future seemed uncertain, and his sense of self-worth dwindled.

In 2022, the Kadjebi Area Programme of World Vision Ghana launched the Adolescent/ Youth Apprenticeship Programme to support vulnerable and out-of-school adolescents. Through this initiative, Charles was enrolled in 2024 into an electrical apprenticeship, a spark that ignited a new path for his future. 

“I never imagined I could learn a skill like this. Now, I see a brighter future ahead.” Charles noted during a monitoring visit. When asked if he liked what he was doing, Charles responded with a smile: “In fact, I don’t like it. I love it.”

“Within a year of his training, Charles is able to handle many tasks with little or no supervision, earning an income to support himself and his family. His talent and dedication have propelled him to the point where he can install a complete transformer, wire homes, and even set up multi-TV systems. I have been assigning him to work with a colleague Electricity Company of Ghana contractor, and he deliver excellently. He is calm, respectful, and fiercely determined,” described Mr Benjamin Bankas, his trainer.

Charles reflects on his journey with pride: “At first, I used to feel I was nobody. But now, I have a handiwork; a career no one can take away from me. I can feed myself and my mother. Thank you, World Vision and your donors. You didn’t just give me a skill. You gave me my life back,” he remarked.

Looking ahead, Charles dreams of completing his two-year apprenticeship training, opening his own shop and training other vulnerable adolescents like himself. His story is not just one of personal success but a testament to the power of opportunity, mentorship, and hope.