Empower 600 Women in Ghana with Microcredit Loans

Adisatu Ali is a mother of five from Bedabour. She is a sharecropper who lives on the cocoa farm with her family. Adisa is a mother who is passionate about her children’s education; and for that she is willing to do even the impossible to ensure that they are in school.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to be enrolled in any formal education, it was only my brothers who went to school, and the bitterness is with me even today, so I vowed to enroll all my children in school, especially the girls, to compensate for my own misfortune," Adisatu said.

She was introduced to the microcredit program through mutual friends at Bedabour eight years ago and for her, that wasn’t only an opportunity to grow or expand her business, but to also fulfill a lifelong wish: putting all her children in school.

 ”The bigger chunk of the loans I took went directly into my children’s education, especially my daughter who is also the first born. Even though I don’t know much, I do know the right education would enhance the quality of life by offering them varieties of options to choose from, and as a mother that was very important to me,” she added.

“You see where our cottage is, we are not within the Bedabour community itself, but on the outskirts of Bedabour, within the farm we are cultivating," she said. "Raising kids there is difficult, especially with their education - no electricity to study with, no proper water source - but I made them understand my plans for them and their need to be committed and persevere. I told my daughters the future I wanted for them; not ending up as sharecroppers like me but becoming something better in life.”

Adisatu has worked very hard to support her children and instill these beliefs. Her first daughter entered the nursing training college last month and she couldn’t hide her joy.  She shared, “Self-Help was with me from her junior high school days. Through the loans, I was able to provide their needs for school. I was particular about my first daughter because I wanted her to set a good example for the rest to follow, and now, she has made me glad. Even though it is not over yet, I feel accomplished, I am satisfied. You have again supported me with another loan for her college education which I’m very grateful for. The life I want for them has started taking shape and it’s all thanks to Self-Help. And because of this, I know my family situation will change; a time will come that we will not live on the farm again. Now the little ones are also inspired to study hard and get out of this place and I know for sure that when the time comes, Self Help will help me yet again because with Self Help, no matter where you are, your dreams will always matter! Just show them your commitment and zeal to help yourself!”