GOT Foundation, in partnership with Mastercard Foundation and Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT), has launched the Youth Empowerment Project Through Skills Acquisition (YEPSA) Project to empower 65 youth in Accra and Bono East Region.
The YEPSA project is a fully funded initiative to equip economically disadvantaged young individuals particularly school dropouts, teenage mothers, and unemployed groups by enrolling them in hairdressing and beautician skills training and providing start up support for sustainable careers and economic independence.
The fully-funded eighteen-month project, is under the Mastercard Foundation’s Employee Innovation Fund, which supports youth led and indigenous organizations in creating sustainable solutions to critical social and economic challenges. This milestone reflects the shared mission of GOT Foundation, Mastercard Foundation and Digital Opportunity Trust to unlock the potential of Africa’s youth by providing pathways for dignified and fulfilling work.
Launching the YEPSA project at Manhean in Accra on August 9, 2025, GOT Foundation’s Executive Director Jennifer Akologo Nabil, said YEPSA empowers marginalised groups with vocational skills for financial independence.
She stated that beneficiaries get training, mentorship, and some start up support to start businesses and create jobs, “targeting young women and girls aged 15-35 in marginalised Greater Accra and Bono East communities.
“In the Bono East Region, we’ve enrolled 30 participants,” the Executive Director of GOT Foundation, disclosed.
Furthermore, Ms. Akologo Nabil noted that YEPSA seeks to inspire and cultivate entrepreneurship among economically disadvantaged young people.
“It is GOT Foundation’s objective to support economically disadvantaged females, helping transform their state through mentorship, education and employment opportunities” she added.
The Project Officer of DOT, Harriet Setsoafia, charged participants to take ownership, be curious, bold and relentless.
“These skills will open doors and help build your futures,” she added.
DOT, she said, is Canadian-based not-for profit organization, with locally managed offices across 6 countries in Africa and Middle East: Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, Lebanon and Jordan.
DOT also reaches Ghana, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, and Zambia via local partnerships with youth-led and youth-serving organizations.
“DOT’s youth-led model created impact in over 25 countries over decades, mobilizing underserved youth with digital literacy, 21st-century skills, and self-confidence for the digital economy.
Mastercard Foundation, she said, is also Canadian, one of the world’s largest private foundation with $35 billion assets. Its mission advances financial inclusion and education to improve lives of those living in poverty. Programmes focus on Africa and Canadian Indigenous communities, aiming for 30 million youth to access dignified work by 2030.
Established in 2006 by Mastercard, it operates independently. “To date, programmes have benefitted 146 million people,” she stated.
Beneficiaries speaking to media were elated and commended GOT Foundation and partners.
Elizabeth, a beneficiary, said, “I am excited as this project offers financial independence and enables job creation.”
Another beneficiary, Sarah Domkwawe, stated, “God bless GOT Foundation, Mastercard Foundation and DOT for launching this for marginalised people.”
The beneficiaries were presented with training and start-up materials.
GOT Foundation is a Ghanaian non-for-profit organisation, founded in 2022 by Jennifer Nabil Akologo. It emerged from her passion to empower girls and women from underprivileged communities via education, skills, mentorship, and social initiatives.
With a mission to nurture and support underprivileged females, the Foundation has impacted over 250 girls through programmes including The Yes I can project, Peer Pressure Campaign, Bead-Making Training, Transforming Young Mothers, and Girls Start Right Summit.
Story By: Dennis Ato Keelson
