For years, Adwoa Yaaba relied on her small farm to feed her household. But as the seasons grew increasingly unpredictable and rainfall became scarce, she was forced to confront a new reality. The harsh effects of climate change were no longer distant—they had become personal.
Faced with food insecurity and rising living costs, Adwoa knew she had to adapt, but wasn’t sure where to start. Then she participated in a Vision, Commitment and Action (VCA) training at the Kyeremase Epicenter. There, she was encouraged to think beyond traditional farming and explore alternative livelihoods. Feeling inspired, she thought through her skills and interests. She remembered that she was pretty good at making soap, a skill she learned about in a THP skills development program. She felt a surge of confidence and decided to try to make a business from it.
I had learned how to make soap through THP’s skills development program, but I stopped because I didn’t have the capital to continue. The VCA training helped me see it again — not as a hobby, but as a business.
With support from The Hunger Project-Ghana and renewed determination, Adwoa resumed production. Today, she supplies soap to her community and neighboring towns, and has passed on her knowledge to two other women.
Her soap-making venture has become a lifeline not just financially, but emotionally. It has restored her confidence and given her new purpose, proving that resilience, when nurtured, can flourish even in the toughest conditions.
“Now, I can pay for my children’s education and support my husband in caring for our home. I don’t rely on anyone for support — all because of the soap I produce,” she says proudly.
Adwoa’s story reflects what it truly means to sow resilience. At The Hunger Project, we work alongside women like her, supporting them to feel empowered to adapt, take a chance on themselves and ultimately rise above hunger and poverty.
Image credit (top to bottom): Ghana, 2025 © The Hunger Project