One thousand two hundred active scholars are receiving training from the 2024 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Summer Camp training program at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

This year’s event, part of the 10th anniversary celebration, aims to equip scholars with skills for the world of work.

The Summer Camp activities are designed to build entrepreneurial skills and provide basic startup knowledge, enabling scholars to create jobs for themselves and their communities.

The Programs Manager, Ms. Afia Ampomah Awuah, expressed satisfaction with the impactful activities championed by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

"It's been successful so far because we have a number of scholars and scholar alumni who are CEOs and entrepreneurs in their own right. They are not just supporting fellow students but also helping community members to achieve livelihoods and secure jobs to support themselves and their families,” she said.

She also highlighted the program’s commitment to inclusivity, especially for persons with disabilities.

“With the onboarding of persons with disabilities and displaced persons, we have been able to provide access to those who otherwise might not have had the opportunity for tertiary or quality higher education. This is an impact the program has created on the KNUST campus as well as in society at large,” she said.

Beneficiaries had the opportunity to engage in various activities, including yoghurt production, garment beading, soap making, photography and videography, event planning, cybersecurity, wig making, poultry production, and animal husbandry, among others.

Speaking at this year’s Summer Camp, the Chairman of the Mastercard Foundation Programs at KNUST, Prof. William Otoo Ellis, encouraged the scholars to fully recognize and utilize their potential.

“The potential in some of you is immense, and I believe in every one of you here. Some of you are underestimating yourselves. You must be confident that you will be successful; if not, don't start at all. The moment you begin, you should know that success is within reach,” he said.

Ms. Hannah Appiah, the Chief Executive Officer of McHan Cosmetics and a beneficiary of the Scholars Program at KNUST, discussed the advantages she gained from the program.

“The Scholars Program and its activities have been very useful for my team and me, especially after hearing stories and ideas shared by experts. I became an entrepreneur through the experiences I gained from those stories. It truly inspired me,” she said.

“I am sure a student who is not a scholar might not benefit from this training as I did. I ventured into soap making, and that’s where it all started. I would say the program has significantly impacted me, particularly concerning McHan Cosmetics,” she said.

This year’s Summer Camp was held under the theme: “Empowering Young Leaders: A Decade of Skills for Impact.”