Diana, Lydia, Veronica and Victorine: "Economic success comes with responsibility"

7 minute read

Diana, Lydia, Veronica and Victorine are entrepreneurs and members of the CAMFED Association of women leaders educated with CAMFED support in Ghana. They are united by their drive to support one another and other women through sustainable businesses.

Before their artisan products go on display at the Curated By Hand Christmas Fair in Cambridge, UK, Diana, Lydia, Veronica and Victorine shared their business and leadership journeys with CAMFED Ghana’s Agnes Atanga.

Agnes: What inspired you to start a business?

Diana: I know first hand how poverty and exclusion can strip you of your dignity. To support women hindered by these circumstances, I founded my basket weaving enterprise, RISE SOCIAL, in 2018. Our goal is to provide training in basketry and financial literacy to help women in rural Ghana overcome these challenges.

Lydia: Beading was an art form I was very eager to learn, and I picked it up during Senior High School. I would create bags for myself, and the compliments I received inspired me to start a business. I realized that many people choose not to use beaded bags, as many of the available options were of lower quality. I became passionate about creating bags that were well-made, sturdy and sought after, leading me to start my business.

Veronica: The community engagements that I got involved in while at university inspired me to give back to my community. Therefore, upon graduation I was able to utilize my cloth weaving business to help support other women, as well as people living with disabilities and young mothers.

Victorine: I have had an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age due to circumstances of hardship. From a young age I helped my mom with small scale trading. During my time at university, I started to think about how I could create a bigger impact in my community, as well as generating an income for myself.

During a CAMFED entrepreneurship training session in Tamale, I came across the beautiful, colorful clothing of the Northern region. I connected with an artisan and took 20 items to Rwanda where I showcased and sold the products at an exhibition.

Following the success of this, I started a business to create a market in Southern Ghana for Northern fabrics, providing the women who weave them with an income, while simultaneously showcasing the culture to Southern Ghana.

Victorine has grown a business bringing colorful clothing from Northern Ghana to a global customer base. (Credit: CAMFED)

Agnes: How has your business growth positively impacted your personal life, family, and community?

Diana: One of my key achievements is the creation of a women’s cooperative with 315 members, growing from a group of five women in 2018. Our cooperative produces handmade African baskets and provides mentorship to young women new to basketry. I help ensure that the cooperative members receive premium prices for their baskets, allowing them to support themselves and uplift other vulnerable community members.

At RISE SOCIAL, we emphasize the importance of both fulfilling work and good health. We assist with the registration and renewal of health insurance cards under Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), particularly focusing on pregnant women and infants, to help reduce maternal death rates. So far, we have facilitated the registration and renewal of 100 healthcare insurance cards for pregnant women, children, and vulnerable people.

We are also tackling poverty and exclusion from education in Northern Ghana by supporting 300 children with stationery and partial school fee funding.

Additionally, recognizing the lack of clean drinking water in Bolgatanga, we drilled and opened a community hand pump borehole in June 2022, addressing the need for accessible clean water and reducing the distance residents need to travel for it.

Veronica: Five years ago, I started my business with three female employees. With the support of CAMFED, my business has significantly grown. I am financially independent, and I employ 32 women, including some living with disabilities and young mothers, to achieve the same. I have helped 12 women successfully set up their own businesses, and encourage them to pay it forward and provide entrepreneurial training in their respective communities.

Victorine: When I started my business, I was collaborating with just one artisan, but now I collaborate with 10 artisans including sisters in the CAMFED Association like Veronica, connecting them to new markets.

I have also employed fashion graduates, providing them with useful skills as they navigate their transition to a career. I currently employ two women.

Today, my customers do not only come from Ghana, but also Rwanda, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, and the US. Through exhibitions and fairs, I am able to expand my customer base.

Agnes:How has CAMFED support helped you with your business?

Diana: CAMFED’s training programs have been instrumental in the success of RISE SOCIAL. I have gained invaluable skills in financial literacy and entrepreneurship, helping me to effectively manage my operations.

CAMFED’s support boosted my confidence, and inspired me to take entrepreneurial risks and start my own non-profit foundation funded by the business.

Diana (left) has built up a cooperative of 315 women who benefit from healthcare and other benefits, in addition to fair prices for their baskets. (Credit: CAMFED)

Lydia: I received a start-up grant through CAMFED and the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works initiative. CAMFED also reaches out whenever there are fairs or exhibitions so I have an opportunity to showcase my products.

Victorine: CAMFED has supported me to grow as an entrepreneur. As a participant in CAMFED’s Business Guide program, I have received help with bookkeeping and business management as well as access to funding. Additionally through the program, I have been able to acquire machinery to improve efficiency and help me scale-up.

Veronica: Because of CAMFED’s support, I have been able to start my own business while also guiding others to be financially independent.

Agnes:Where would you like to see your business in five years?

Diana: My dream is to help 2,000 women increase their income within the next five years, and to replicate this model across northern Ghana. By 2026, we aim to reach 1,000 women with financial skills training and a robust social support system. These women will form regional cooperatives to help them sustain and grow their businesses.

One of our core goals at the cooperative is to establish a women-run and -led artisan village to showcase the previously untapped talents of these women, demonstrating what can be achieved when given the opportunity.

I also anticipate supporting at least 1,000 girls through school by 2026 as well as reducing maternal deaths by implementing a more effective health insurance model and building a community maternal health center.

Lydia: In the next five years, I would like to open a retail space, as I currently operate my business from home and sell my products at exhibitions or through social media. Additionally, I would like to offer training and employment to other women, providing them the opportunity to start their own businesses.

Lydia has turned a hobby into a thriving business and hopes to train other women in beadwork. (Credit: CAMFED)

Victorine: In the next five years, I plan to have completed my workspace so I can operate my business at full capacity. The space will also serve as a training center where young women can explore their creative skills especially in fashion and entrepreneurship. I also hope to create full-time, sustainable employment for 20 women. Currently, I sell my products solely at fairs and exhibitions, so I also hope to procure retail outlets.

Veronica: In the next five years, I hope to have my own weaving center. This is already underway as I have bought the land and construction is planned for next year. Once the weaving center is constructed, I also hope to employ more women and start exporting my products to other countries.

In the next 10 years, we aim to have helped 600 women to start their own businesses.