Growing Fairer Futures

In January 2020 we launched Growing Fairer Futures, a one year project supporting young people in rural Eastern Ghana. Working in partnership with a local fair trade cocoa co-operative, this project supported 50 youth aged between 18 – 35 to establish their own cocoa farm and build it into a robust and sustainable business. Agriculture, in particular cocoa farming, is the main source of livelihood in this community. However, aging cocoa trees, use of traditional farming techniques and the increasing effects of climate change means many farmers struggle to make a living from this activity and young people choose to migrate to urban areas in search of employment.

This project provided 50 young people with the agricultural inputs and tools including cocoa tree seedlings needed to prepare and plant their cocoa farm. Training in business skills, finance management, modern cocoa farming techniques and climate smart agriculture provided them with the skills and knowledge to grow their cocoa farm into a sustainable and profitable business, contributing to a reduction in rural unemployment and poverty.  

This project was supported by the Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust.