From handmade soaps and personal care products to processed and packaged rice, entrepreneurs participating in the Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism (BRAVE II) livelihood intervention in Binduri District of the Upper East region, are taking an important step from skills development to market access.

The products were showcased during a district-level exhibition that brought together entrepreneurs, the Binduri District Assembly, STAR-Ghana Foundation, BElim Wusa Development Agency (BEWDA), the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) and other stakeholders.

For a district located close to the Burkina Faso border, the exhibition was more than an opportunity to display products. It was also a demonstration of how livelihood support and partnerships can contribute to stronger and more resilient communities.

Turning skills into opportunities

The District Chief Executive for Binduri District, Martin Akudugu Ariku, commended STAR-Ghana Foundation for its support and collaboration with the District Assembly.

He noted that the opportunities created through the intervention were particularly important for communities close to the border, where livelihoods often extend across both Ghana and Burkina Faso.

According to him, people from Ghana cross into Burkina Faso to farm, while farmers from Burkina Faso also come into Ghana to cultivate their fields.

He expressed appreciation for the Foundation’s efforts to engage community members and create opportunities that can strengthen livelihoods.

“The exhibits speak to it,” he said, describing the intervention as a significant development for the district.

Livelihoods and peacebuilding go together

For STAR-Ghana Foundation, the work in Binduri forms part of a broader effort to strengthen peace and prevent violent extremism in communities close to Ghana’s borders.

The Foundation’s Head of Programmes, Eunice Racheal Agbenyadzi, said STAR-Ghana has worked in the area for several years, paying particular attention to peacebuilding and the prevention of violent extremism.

Because of its proximity to the border, she said, strengthening community structures and promoting dialogue are important parts of building resilience.

“If there is peace, there is nothing that we can’t do,” she noted.

She explained that the Foundation’s work is aimed at helping to create an environment where women can pursue their livelihoods, children can attend school and community members can contribute to peace.

As part of this approach, STAR-Ghana has supported dialogue platforms and worked with community members to become agents of peace.

The Foundation is also supporting more than 150 households to strengthen their livelihoods, recognising the important role women play in sustaining their families.

At the exhibition, Eunice encouraged stakeholders to look beyond the display of products and consider how the entrepreneurs could be connected to sustainable markets.

“We want you to see the products and we hope on your good office to support market access so that their businesses will thrive,” she said.

Products that tell a story

The exhibition offered a glimpse of what community members are producing with the support they have received.

Handmade soaps and personal care products were among the items on display, alongside processed and packaged rice.

The entrepreneurs expressed appreciation to STAR-Ghana Foundation for providing them with skills and livelihood support, while also calling for the intervention to be expanded to reach more people in their communities.

One farmer spoke about the support received to access good-quality seeds, which has helped improve their farming activities.

For the entrepreneurs, the exhibition provided an opportunity not only to display their products, but also to demonstrate what can be achieved when people have access to skills, resources and support.

Connecting enterprises to markets

The Head of Binduri Business Advisory Centre, Seidu Amiyayi, highlighted the importance of helping the emerging enterprises move beyond production to marketing and business development.

One immediate opportunity identified is digital marketing, particularly because many of the entrepreneurs already have access to smartphones.

The BAC plans to provide training in business management and digital marketing, with representatives from the various groups expected to participate.

This creates another important link in the journey from skills to sustainable enterprise: learning how to produce, learning how to manage a business and learning how to reach customers.

Partnership for local development

The exhibition also reinforced the importance of collaboration between government, civil society and local communities.

Eunice noted that government and District Assemblies cannot undertake development alone, making partnerships essential.

She thanked the Binduri District Assembly and the DCE for creating space for STAR-Ghana and its partners to work with the district.

The collaboration with BEWDA and the support of the Business Advisory Centre have also been important in helping community members build their livelihoods.

As the exhibition demonstrated, the products on display are not simply goods for sale. They represent skills acquired, enterprises being built and opportunities for households to strengthen their livelihoods.

From skills to products. From products to markets. And from stronger livelihoods to more resilient communities.