When the Peculiar Women of Substance (PWS) Foundation arrived in Afabeng on May 1, 2026, the atmosphere was filled with excitement. Women, young people, and unexpectedly,many men gathered with one shared purpose: to learn, to grow, and to gain skills that could change their lives.
Over just two powerful days, the EmpowerHer 2.3 project created an unforgettable ripple of empowerment across the community, directly impacting 235 participants.
A Community’s Hunger for Skills and Opportunity
EmpowerHer 2.3 was originally designed to equip women with employable and income-generating skills. However, the large turnout of men showed something deeper, an entire community longing for economic empowerment and self-reliance.
From farmers to students to mothers supporting households, participants came carrying hope. They left carrying ability.
DAY 1 — A Vibrant Start: Learning, Creating, Becoming
Day 1 began with a warm exchange of greetings between the PWS team and the Afabeng Missionary Association, followed by introductions and registration. Participants selected their preferred training tracks and, with remarkable enthusiasm, the learning began immediately.
Hands-On Skill Training Highlights
Pastries:
A large group gathered around bowls of dough, chopping boards, and rolling pins, learning step-by-step how to make spring rolls, samosas, quiches, meat pies, and turnovers. The aroma filling the air was a reminder of the business potential these simple recipes hold.
Tie-and-Dye:
Colour-filled buckets turned the compound into an art studio. Participants experimented with folds, knots, and colour-mixing techniques that transformed plain fabric into stunning patterned pieces.
Fabric Softener Production:
Participants learned how to mix ingredients, add fragrance, and achieve the perfect texture, mastering a product that is constantly in demand in homes and small markets.
Bar Soap Making:
One of the most technically rich sessions, this training covered lye preparation, oil selection, temperature control, and safe handling procedures. By afternoon, neatly poured bars were already setting.
Evening Session: Yogurt Production
Despite a full day, the learning continued.
At 7:00 PM, participants gathered once more, this time for an intensive session on yogurt making. The excitement was palpable as participants asked questions, took notes, and tasted their final product.
“I never imagined making yogurt on my own,” a participant shared. “Now I believe I can start something small from home.”
By the end of Day 1, Afabeng was already transformed, skills were brewing, confidence was rising, and hope was visible on every face.
DAY 2 — Advancing Skills and Showcasing Mastery
Day 2 focused on advanced practicals. Though fewer in number, participants were deeply committed, returning to refine their skills and ask more technical questions.
Ice Cream & Advanced Yogurt Preparation
The morning began with a fun and engaging session on ice cream making, followed by deeper exploration into yogurt production—branding, consistency control, flavouring, and packaging.
Skill Tracks Deepened
Pastries: Participants learned to prepare cupcakes, donuts, brownies, sausage rolls, jam rolls, and rock cakes.
Tie-and-Dye: Designs moved from practice squares to full T-shirts and larger fabric pieces.
Fabric Softener: The group worked on branding and packaging strategies suitable for local markets.
Bar Soap: Participants demolded their Day 1 soaps, cut the bars to size, and discussed pricing strategies and storage.
Grand Exhibition & Celebration
By early afternoon, the compound transformed into a colourful exhibition ground. Tables displayed pastries, tie-and-dye shirts, soap bars, fabric softener bottles, yogurt samples, and ice cream creations. Families, community leaders, and other locals visited to admire the work.
The pride on the faces of participants was undeniable.
“I came to learn, but I’m leaving with confidence,” one participant said during the exhibition.
“Now I know I can earn something for my children.”
The closing ceremony ended with group photographs, certificate presentations, prayers of gratitude, and a renewed commitment to return.
A Lasting Impact on Afabeng
By the end of the two-day program:
- 235 participants were trained
- Five income-generating skills were taught
- Dozens of tie-and-dye pieces were produced
- Over 100 pastry items were baked
- Soap and fabric softener batches were created
- Participants learned essential branding and packaging skills
- Community-wide enthusiasm for entrepreneurship was reignited
EmpowerHer 2.3 did more than teach skills, it built confidence, sparked ambition, and empowered Afabeng families with the tools to pursue sustainable livelihoods.