The Seamstresses Training Enterprise Project (STEP UP) was initiated with the main goal of reducing poverty among young seamstresses and giving them control over their own lives. Within the STEP UP project a group of young women works and learns at the training centre/sales shop located at Bolgatanga Craft centre. They can develop and improve their tailoring skills and sell their goods. The shop is provided with sewing machines which are used during training.
The young women attend business training twice a week during which simplified and practical business concepts are taught which they can easily apply when starting up their own businesses. In addition, the women are trained in quality control and new sewing techniques. This enables them to compete with the many sewing shops in and around Bolgatanga. All the goods produced during the year can be sold and the yield will be shared among the seamstresses. They can use this financial resource to set up their own business after their training is completed.
