MASO is a five year programme, focused on creating employment opportunities for the youth (aged 18-25) in Ghana’s cocoa communities.
The MASO Programme works with experienced entrepreneurs and business/ management consultants as volunteers to mentor young entrepreneurs in cocoa producing communities through its Business Academy.
The MASO Business Academy (business incubator) is training and supporting youth interested in starting businesses along the cocoa production chain or businesses that will enhance the life and general well-being of cocoa growing communities. Eligible youth entrepreneurs are empowered through training, technical support, coaching and mentorship as they develop and implement their business models.
Youth aged 17 – 25 years have currently enrolled for the the one year business incuabtion programme facilitated by Ashesi University.
The mentors and coaches provide hand holding for the youth. These volunteers work across all its operational Business Academy in partnership with Ashesi University. The mentors assist MASO to ensure, mentees develop the necessary skills; are exposed to opportunities within the spaces they are exploring businesses in; are aware of available resources; and can make appropriate business decisions.
The mentors and coaches are recruited primarily to guide and model positive behaviors among the youth.They are also monitor progress of the youth as they start their careers as cocoa enterpreneurs/farmers.
Their support is guided by a mentoring manual developed by the programme.
The Business Academy mentors performs the following roles
- Share their experiences in business start up to guide mentees;
- Hold mentoring sessions with the mentees during an eleven-month duration; and
- Help the mentees build their self-esteem and confidence as well as motivate them
Voices of some mentors
“I am happy to support the young people in my community to start businesses,we had no such support growing up. It’s a good way of giving back to society.But more importantly, we grow together ,they learn about new ideas from us just as we learn timeless wisdom from them”, said Fafapa Ama Foe, a Mentor from Hohoe in the Volta Region.
“Starting a business is not easy but with guidance ,one is able to find a way around all the challenges .We are using our experiences in starting our businesses to help the youth.They come to us to for all business related information and we advice them regularly”,said Rosaline Ashigbui, another mentor.
The mentors and coaches spend at least two hours with each mentee every month,they followup to their communities to observe their ventures and provide them with hands on support.
