The European Union funded Cassava Transformation Project (CASTRAP) has trained 24 entrepreneurial but underprivileged youths in the South-eastern counties of Grand Gedeh and Sinoe in baking and pastry-making using cassava and wheat flour. They have successfully established and are currently operating 8 business enterprises making and selling chocolate cake, cornbread, coconut bread, gari bread, meat pies, movie roses, yeast donuts, and banana bread.
With its objective of commercializing processed cassava products and at the same time creating jobs particularly for the youths, the project saw an opportunity to train young people in pastry-making and baking utilizing a combination of both wheat flour and high-quality cassava flour (HQCF). The methods employed during the training exercise included baking contests, joint and individual product presentation, as well as a demonstration of competency.
Additionally, to ensure these talented trainees could promptly apply their newfound skills, CASTRAP provided support to establish eight groups, each consisting of three trainees who went on to start their own businesses. As a significant bonus, one of these enterprises received a startup kit complete with a large oven, bread boxes, bags of cassava flour, and various pastry products. These talented trainees have now established and are operating eight business enterprises, offering a delightful range of products, including chocolate cake, cornbread, coconut bread, gari bread, meat pies, movie roses, yeast donuts, and banana bread.
In just a few months, from June to August 2023, this initiative has transformed the lives of 24 inspiring young individuals in Sinoe and Grand Gedeh counties. However, this journey is far from over. An additional 36 youths are currently undergoing training in River Gee, Maryland, and Grand Kru counties, ensuring that the ripple effect of CASTRAP’s impact continues to spread.
