The Ripple Effect: How Elizabeth is Transforming Ananekrom
By; Nathaniel Abadji, Communications Officer
In the quiet community of Ananekrom, a young girl named Elizabeth once stood at a crossroads. A brilliant graduate of Ananeeokrom DA Basic School, she dreamed of furthering her education. However, like many others in underserved communities, her aspirations were clouded by financial hardship and a lack of support.
That was until World Vision Ghana stepped in. Through the Youth Rescue Project, Elizabeth became one of 20 selected youth (18 young women and 2 young men) who were offered the chance to pursue vocational training in the field of their choice. For Elizabeth, that choice was hairdressing. She began a three-year apprenticeship in Denkyira Obuasi, a community within the Diaso District, where World Vision Ghana operates one of its Area Programmes.
“It wasn’t easy at first,” Elizabeth recalls. “There were five of us under one trainer. I had to push myself because I knew this was my only chance. If I failed, I could be taking away someone else’s opportunity.”
Her determination paid off. In 2024, Elizabeth graduated from her apprenticeship. With startup funding of GH₵2,500 from World Vision Ghana and additional support from her family, she opened her salon, right in her hometown of Ananekrom, where no such service existed before.
Elizabeth is not just a business owner today; she’s also a mentor and a changemaker. She employs nine apprentices, generates a monthly profit of around GHS 2,500 and supports her five-year-old nephew's education and healthcare.
Her impact is already growing. “My madam was just like me,” says Sarah, one of Elizabeth’s apprentices. “She didn’t get to finish school, but she’s built something powerful. That inspires me.”
Elizabeth’s vision doesn’t stop at Ananekrom. She dreams of expanding her salon and opening branches in other communities. “I want to help more girls like me,” she says. “God bless World Vision for giving me this chance. I hope they can reach even more girls.”
Her advice to young girls is simple yet profound:
'Know where you come from, but don't let it define where you're going. Stay focused. Be determined. Learn with all your heart.”
The Youth Rescue Project was designed to provide alternatives to dangerous and exploitative work like illegal mining and commercial motorcycling. It offers youth the opportunity to gain practical skills, become self-reliant, and transform their communities.
Now, imagine this:
What if we could empower 20 young people like Elizabeth in 20 different communities?
Each of them could then train 20 more people. They, in turn, could inspire even more people.
This is how transformation begins: one life at a time..