Ayisikrom Community — Where the Journey Begins
Mavis – along with her husband and four children – lives in Ayisikrom in the Eastern region of Ghana. This is just one cocoa-growing community in the country, and similar to many others, community development has been stifled by deeply ingrained gender inequality, which is often reinforced by biased religious beliefs.
The community has been dominated by a patriarchal system where women and girls are expected to marry young, and are discouraged from pursuing an education beyond their junior or senior year in high school.
Mavis, who was born and raised in this environment, had harbored aspirational dreams of change. However, the weight of tradition was heavy, and for much of her life, her goals have seemed out of reach.
“I yearned to see a change in Ayisikrom, but it seemed impossible.”
Empowered to lead — A new dawn for Ayisikrom
In 2021, the Mondelez International programme, Cocoa Life, which was implemented by Solidaridad West Africa, set up a Community Development Committee in Ayisikrom to drive development. Mavis, who was already the treasurer for her community’s Cocoa Life farmers’ group, was elected as the women’s representative.
At first, leadership felt foreign to her. That changed as she and other committee members attended training sessions on leadership, gender, conflict management and youth empowerment.
“I was clueless when it came to issues related to leadership. The concept of leadership was lost on me, as I could not fully grasp its true meaning.”
“The training gave me the courage to stand out and speak up. Today, women in my church and community look up to me for representation during discussions and meetings.”
For Mavis, these sessions were transformative. Her leadership skills improved and she received guidance on how to effectively carry out her responsibilities.
The sessions ignited a spark within her. Armed with knowledge and confidence, she began to challenge the community’s social norms. Mavis became a voice for women, and represented their concerns in discussions, while advocating for their rights.
Breaking Records and Inspiring Hope
In a dramatic break with tradition, Mavis enrolled her eldest daughter in the University of Ghana. This was a first for any girl in Ayisikrom, and has paved the way for other girls in the area to pursue higher education.
For Mavis, breaking the educational barriers that hold some girls back in rural Ghana is one of her finest achievements.
“My daughter is the first girl in our community to enroll in a tertiary institution,” she says with pride.
Since then, Mavis’ influence in her community has grown. She became the leader of her church’s Anigyie, which means ‘happiness,’ a women’s group for newlyweds.
Using her training in gender and conflict management, she offers valuable counsel and has worked with more than 20 women to help resolve conflicts within their households.
Mavis’s activism has not been without resistance. Some men in the community accused her of turning their wives against them. However, these tensions were addressed with the support of Solidaridad and continuous dialogue.
Not only has Mavis found the courage to have an impact on her broader community, but she has also significantly improved her parenting skills. Mavis looks forward to supporting her children through school, while also helping them to explore their potential to the fullest.
A thriving farmer and entrepreneur
Mavis has also made significant strides in her farming business. For nearly 20 years, she depended on her husband to manage her seven acres of cocoa farms. But through training in both leadership and good agricultural practices, including pruning, spraying, and record-keeping, she has taken charge of the farm.
Her efforts have paid off, as her yield increased from four to eight bags of cocoa per acre, and her net profit now exceeds 5,000 Ghana cedis (about 316 euros) per season.
“I never really benefited from the profits made from my farm because it was inadequate and managed by my husband. The yield for each acre at that time was four bags (62.5 kgs per bag).”
A Legacy of Leadership
Working through the Cocoa Life programme, over 1,000 women, including Mavis, have taken up leadership roles in their communities.
“The Cocoa Life programme has been a game-changer, unlocking numerous possibilities for me.”
“Today, Mavis is a respected leader and role model. Her journey from a voiceless community member to an empowered agent of change exemplifies the transformative power of education and empowerment.”Kwame Apau, Programme Manager for Cocoa Life at Solidaridad
About Cocoa Life
The Cocoa Life programme, launched by Mondelez International in 2012, is designed to address challenges facing the cocoa sector. The project promotes sustainable cocoa production in key cocoa-growing countries while supporting community development in cocoa-growing regions.
In Ghana, Solidaridad led the implementation of the programme in the Eastern region, from 2019 to 2023. Through the programme, over 10,000 farmers were introduced to good agricultural practices to improve their productivity. One hundred and twenty-two communities were engaged and supported as they developed community action plans.
As a result of the action plans, over 200 community projects were successfully completed. Additionally, more than 4,000 participants gained financial independence by diversifying their income streams through at least one additional livelihood activity introduced through the programme.