Henkel, in partnership with United Way Ghana, organized the Youth Empowerment Seminar #YES2024, which took place in Accra from the 23rd to 25th of October and in Kumasi from the 29th to 31st of October. These seminars marked the beginning of a one-year Youth Mentorship and Business Incubation Program aimed at providing young people in Ghana with the skills, resources, and guidance they need to unlock their potential and succeed in the competitive business world.

These seminars in Accra and Kumasi offered practical training sessions, mentorship opportunities, and networking platforms to 100 young participants aged 18-30 years, who were selected following a competitive application process based on the outlined criteria. This initiative, which is part of Henkel's global commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability, was aimed at uplifting the next generation of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and innovators in Ghana.

Speaking about the seminar, Ms. Faustina Abbey, Executive Director of United Way Ghana, said, "We are glad to host the Youth Empowerment Seminar which is designed to launch the one-year mentorship program that comprises mentorship, business incubation, and soft grants. We are happy to be working with Henkel to organize this program which will benefit 100 young Ghanaians and provide opportunities for them to build a business and grow their careers. We are committed to working with strategic partners to build resilient communities in Ghana where young people can thrive.”

Speaking about the seminar, Mr. Nicolas Platel, Industrial IOT Owner at Henkel and Facilitator, said, "The seminar was a positive experience for the participants and they understood the knowledge shared with them. The seminar provided the participants the methodology and tools they need to develop their career and build their entrepreneurial path. Henkel is committed to helping young people achieve their developmental goals, and I believe they will continue to play an active role in this aspect.”

Speaking to participants at the seminar, Mr. Worlanyo Ocloo, President of United Way Ghana Governing Council and Co-Founder of TopDog Africa Limited, said, "I urge you all to not be afraid to change the status quo; don’t be afraid to do things differently; don’t be afraid of being unique. All the skills you will learn during the seminar are well thought out modules that will build your capacity for entrepreneurship and career development, but if you’re afraid to use them it will not work for you. The world owes you nothing, and nobody is going to give you anything on a silver platter. When you want something, all you have to do is to go get it yourself.”

The Youth Empowerment Seminars in Accra and Kumasi was facilitated by seasoned professionals with expertise in strategic sectors, amongst whom includes Madam Yvonne Gyebi, Head of Wealth and Retail Banking, Standard Chartered Bank Ghana; Mrs. Yvonne Ocloo, Co-Founder of TopDog Africa; Nicolas Platel, Industrial IOT Product Owner, Henkel; Dr. Evans Duah, Head, International Relations and Programmes Section, AAMUSTED; Gloria Yamson, Relationship Lead, Bancassurance, Prudential Life Insurance Ghana; Dr. Isaac Tweneboah-Koduah, Principal Consultant, HiPAG Services; Shirley Tony Kum, Corporate Communications Manager, Vivo Energy Ghana; Confidence Mawusi, Community Engagement Coordinator, QS ImpACT; and a Team from Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC.

The Henkel and United Way Ghana Youth Empowerment Seminar comprised of sessions on Self-Discovery and Personal Development, Financial Literacy, Leadership, Idea Development, Business Development and Marketing, Career Guidance and Professional Development, Digital Literacy and Cyber Awareness, Social Responsibility and Community Engagement, and Resilience and Adaptability. These topics were strategically selected to build the participants capacity, foster business ideation, and promote professionalism to ensure participants can develop themselves and their businesses and/or career to contribute adequately to the development of their communities.

About United Way Ghana

United Way Ghana is part of a global network of organizations that mobilize the caring power of communities to improve lives. The organization focuses on education, financial stability, and health—the building blocks for a good quality of life. Through partnerships and collaborations, United Way Ghana addresses community needs and works towards sustainable solutions.

For more information, please contact:

United Way Ghana 

Tel: +233 36 219 4500 

Email: info@unitedwaygh.org 

Website: www.unitedwaygh.org

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