The Get Into programme empowered Fosuaa to move from hardship to hope, securing a stable job where she earns four times as much.

Fosuaa’s father died while she was still at school, and the loss of a parent and breadwinner plunged the family into hardship.

Fosuaa worked tirelessly to help support her mother and younger siblings, but her meagre earnings from a market stall were never enough. She spent years searching for stable work but, without practical skills or experience, faced repeated rejections.

The Get Into programme supported Fosuaa, 25, to build up the professional workplace skills to secure a formal job in a restaurant, helping her hone her teamwork, communication and customer service skills. Fosuaa’s work experience placement led to an immediate job offer, transforming her life and prospects.

‘I was shocked that the same restaurant that once rejected my application was now offering me a job through the Get Into programme, because of the skills I gained,’ Fosuaa remembers.

Building the skills to serve

Get Into, delivered in Ghana through our partner Youth Opportunity and Transformation in Africa (YOTA), is an employer-led training course that offers pathways to work for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The course covers a mixture of general employability skills and technical, sector-specific knowhow, followed by a work placement. Each step of the programme paves the way for the next.

Fosuaa’s course focused on hospitality, helping her build the skills to cope with a demanding catering environment.

‘I learned how to have patience at work when faced with difficult situations, and how to communicate well with customers. Learning teamwork also helped me assist my colleagues in the kitchen so we could complete orders quickly’, she explains.

Opportunity for all

In order to make it open to young people on low incomes, like Fosuaa, the Get Into programme is entirely free, and also includes a daily meal and travel subsidy. This made the world of difference to Fosuaa throughout her time on the course.

‘I really enjoyed the fact that the programme provided both transportation and meals during training,’ Fosuaa recalls. ‘Some days, there was no food at home, and that was the only thing I could depend on.’

By giving Fosuaa the chance build her skills, and then hone them further on her work placement, the programme set her up for success and then gave her the chance to prove herself. Her placement employers were so impressed that they offered her a permanent role.

Security and ambition

Now earning a stable monthly wage that is four times higher than her previous income from the market stall, Fosuaa has finally achieved financial security after years of struggle. She and her family had been lodging with a friend, but have now been able to move into home of their own. Now able to cover essentials such as food, rent and bills, their quality of life is much improved.

Alongside her job, Fosuaa has also started to take on private catering orders, boosting her earnings further. And as she builds her skills and experience in the industry, she has big ambitions for her future.

‘I am confident that one day I will be able to open restaurants, not just in Ghana, but also abroad,’ Fosuaa says, ‘And when I do, I want to hire young people who have gone through the Get Into programme to work with me.’