Single Mothers Project Ghana - A Day That Stays With You – Bolgatanga, Winkogo, and the Strength of Women

After about two and a half hours of travel, we finally arrived in Bolgatanga. The dusty road was behind us, the hotel in front of us. Check-in, arrival, a deep breath. The afternoon was calm and gentle—we spent it together, slowing down, talking quietly about what we wanted to discuss in the meeting the next day. The plan was clear: start at 10 a.m. A peaceful evening, a clear head, and a lot of anticipation.

The next morning, I woke up relaxed. No tension in my body, no aches from a long and exhausting bus ride. The flight had absolutely been worth it—for my health and for this moment. I was greeted by a deep blue sky and dry, clean air. The sun was already strong, and it was noticeably warmer than the day before. And yet, it felt perfect. I truly enjoyed every second of it.

After breakfast, I took a short walk into town to withdraw money for the batik women—the income they had generated through selling their batik fabrics. We had managed to raise a beautiful amount. Not just money, but recognition, dignity, and pride.

At 10 o’clock sharp, I grabbed a tuk-tuk—here they are called “Can-Do.” After negotiating the price, I headed to Winkogo. When I arrived, all the women were already there, waiting. Twelve women in total—not the full group, as six were unable to attend. Most of them were from the batik group.

The meeting began with a prayer in FraFra, the language spoken in Ghana’s Upper East Region. A quiet, powerful moment. After that,

Dan explained how we envisioned the meeting: everyone would share their journey—when they started with us, their successes, and also their challenges.

The seamstresses began. Many of them have been part of the project from the very beginning. They can take measurements independently, create patterns, and sew. We asked them: What is your biggest challenge when sewing?One woman explained that she never had the chance to go to school, and that writing down measurements and matching them later is very difficult for her. Together, we discussed possible techniques: always writing measurements in the same order, drawing simple sketches, finding her own system. Solutions often emerge exactly here—in listening and sharing.

Many women struggle with their sewing machines: skipped stitches, broken hand wheels, feeding problems. We will organize a mechanic to assess what can be repaired. A functioning machine is not a luxury—it is the foundation of their livelihood.

The third-year apprentices regularly attend Associated Meetings. There, they choose a design and have one week to sew it. This requires a lot of fabric. Thanks to your donations, we were already able last year to buy fabrics in Accra and provide them to the women—this made a huge difference.Our agreement with the women is simple: we provide the fabric for the first exam design. If they do not pass, they must buy the fabric themselves. This strongly motivates them to work carefully and precisely. Still, it is not easy—customers come in, children need attention, daily life continues. We encouraged them to consciously stay longer at work to give their exam pieces the attention they deserve.

Then came laughter. I asked the women what they least enjoyed sewing. I expected trousers—because that’s also what I like least to sew myself.One seamstress said long-sleeved shirts. Why? Because she used to sew the sleeves incorrectly—mixing up front and back. Anyone who sews knows this feeling. I myself once managed to sew a sleeve into the neckline—using knit fabric. You can imagine how quickly that project ended up in the trash.

Another woman shared her personal nemesis: trousers. Every time a man tried them on, it was impossible for him to urinate—she had sewn the fly shut. We all burst into loud laughter. Today, however, they have mastered their challenges and can sew everything.

In Ghana, apprentices usually learn to sew either women’s or men’s clothing—but not both. We were able to organize a training placement where a man and a woman work together, allowing the apprentices to learn both. Once they graduate, our goal is for them to also learn overlock sewing. In many cases, seamstresses sew their pieces and then take them to someone else who overlocks all day long. From a business perspective, we want them to be able to produce everything from A to Z themselves. When the time comes, we will provide an overlock machine so they can learn.

The women who learned weaving also told us about problems with their looms. The frame has a defect, and the manufacturer keeps postponing repairs and never shows up. We will follow up on this as well.

Then Jennifer shared her story—a story that stays with you.When we started the project in 2023, she had already been in training for two years but could not afford the tuition fees or the weaving loom. Thanks to your support, we were able to finance both. In 2024, she successfully completed her apprenticeship.She came to the meeting specifically to thank us. Today, she is self-employed. She has her own shop, an apprentice, and steady customers. Her mother is ill, and Jennifer has been caring for her at home in recent months. Her independence allows her to finance this care. Dignity. Self-determination. A future.

With the batik women, things are a little more complicated—and precisely for that reason, even more important. The last time they produced anything was last December, when Nana was on site. Olivia, their leader, gave birth to a child and has naturally been focused on caring for the baby. Life happens.

Together, we decided to use part of the income to purchase new materials so they can produce another batch. The remaining money was distributed among the women—a delayed Christmas gift. A clear message: you are not forgotten.

Why I’m Sharing All of This

Because every donation makes a difference. Because fabrics turn into livelihoods. Because support grows into independence. And because these women show what is possible when someone believes in them.

If, while reading, you felt like you were there—then you already are, in your heart.Help us continue writing these stories.With your donation. With your trust. With your humanity.

Here you can learn more about the project and how you can support us.

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