Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth<\/a> (HAPPY) Program<\/strong>. Since 2023, Jobberman Ghana has worked alongside the Mastercard Foundation, Agri-Impact Limited, and a consortium of seven partners to create dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for young people, particularly women and persons with disabilities, across four key agricultural value chains: soya, rice, tomato, and poultry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThrough the HAPPY Program, Jobberman Ghana’s mandate extends beyond connecting people to jobs. It also involves equipping young people with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to pursue entrepreneurship and self-employment pathways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Program Manager Asiwome Biekro put it: \u201cAt Jobberman Ghana, we recognise that not every young person will find opportunity through formal employment alone. Entrepreneurship is an equally important pathway to economic empowerment. Through the HAPPY Program, we are committed to equipping young people with practical, marketable skills that help them generate sustainable incomes. Grill & Grow was designed with this in mind, creating opportunities for women to develop entrepreneurial skills while also supporting Ghana’s poultry value chain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Grill & Grow Initiative reflects a broader commitment by Jobberman Ghana to create pathways to work and economic participation for young people, whether through employment or entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Managing Director Hilda Nimo-Tieku captured the strategic logic: \u201cMany people know Jobberman as a recruitment company, but our mission has always been broader than job placement. We exist to create economic opportunities for young people. Through our partnership on the HAPPY Program, we have seen firsthand that meaningful work can come in many forms, whether through formal employment, self-employment, or enterprise creation. The Grill & Grow Initiative and the Ghana Chicken Fair demonstrate how targeted skills training, entrepreneurship support, and market access can come together to create sustainable livelihoods while contributing to the growth of local industries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For many participants, the program represented more than a skills training opportunity. It provided a pathway to self-reliance, business ownership, and increased earning potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One participant reflected on her experience, saying, \u201cI\u2019ll be honest, I don\u2019t have any skill. I am an SHS graduate. I didn\u2019t further my education, and I\u2019m still at home. Through this program, I\u2019ve learned a skill that I can use to start a business and earn an income. Today, I can confidently say that I have something valuable that can help me build a future for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another participant highlighted the broader impact of the training: \u201cGrill & Grow exceeded my expectations. I came here hoping to learn how to grill, but I gained so much more. This initiative will automatically increase my income. It will also help me and my family to have a higher income.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the training itself, the Ghana Chicken Fair served as a platform to increase awareness and consumption of locally produced chicken at a time when imported poultry products continue to dominate the market. Demand-side development and supply-side capability building are running concurrently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The success of both the Grill & Grow Program and the Ghana Chicken Fair was made possible through the support of partners, sponsors, vendors, and exhibitors who shared in the vision of creating opportunities for women while promoting local poultry consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jobberman Ghana extends its appreciation to Chili Belly Restaurant, TechnoServe, Agri-Impact Limited, SB Incubator, Akoko Market, Gamma Energie, Deedew Spices, Akoko Tasty, Amas Farms, Hendy Farms, as well as various exhibitors whose support enhanced the training experience and contributed to the success of the fair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the program transitions into its next phase, participants will be grouped into enterprise teams that will establish and operate grilling businesses across Accra. With continued support and mentorship, these enterprises will serve as a model for translating skills development into sustainable livelihoods and business growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 52 women trained represent the first cohort of the Grill & Grow Program. Building on the lessons and successes from this inaugural cohort, Jobberman Ghana and its partners intend to continue the initiative, creating opportunities for more women to acquire practical entrepreneurial skills and participate in Ghana’s growing poultry value chain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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