This year marked the 9th edition of the Empower Her Camp, held under the theme “Power, Purpose, and Possibilities.” Organised by the Akua Kuenyehia Foundation (AKF) with support from Standard Chartered, the camp continues to serve as a transformative platform that equips underprivileged girls with the skills, knowledge, and networks they need to pursue higher education and succeed in their careers.

For nearly a decade, the Empower Her Camp has brought together young women from underserved communities under AKF’s holistic “4Cs” framework: Career, Culture, Community, and Core Skills. Each edition inspires participants to see beyond limitations and prepares them to become agents of change in their communities.

At this year’s session, staff of Standard Chartered volunteered their time and expertise to facilitate sessions on workplace readiness and career development. A highlight of the programme was the speed mentoring session, which participants have consistently described as one of the most impactful elements of the camp, offering them direct access to guidance from accomplished professionals.

This marks the second time the Bank has partnered with the Akua Kuenyehia Foundation to expand the programme’s reach and deepen its impact. Standard Chartered’s support for this initiative forms part of Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, the Bank’s global youth economic empowerment initiative for disadvantaged young people, particularly women and persons with disabilities. Futuremakers promotes greater economic inclusion across the communities in which the Bank operates, and through this partnership, the Bank continues to help more young women gain access to education, skills development, and professional growth opportunities.

Commenting on the collaboration, Asiedua Addae, Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, stated that empowering women remains one of the most effective ways to drive lasting community impact and is also an integral part of how the Bank gives back to society. She added that the partnership with the Akua Kuenyehia Foundation reflects the Bank’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders and ensuring that young women have the tools and confidence to shape their own futures.

Echoing this sentiment, Akorfa Kuenyehia Bentsi-Enchi, executive director at the Akua Kuenyehia Foundation, explained that the foundation believes empowering women means empowering entire communities, because when the life of one girl is transformed, the impact ripples far beyond her. She highlighted that this year’s camp was designed to inspire young women to recognise their limitless potential and break free from societal stereotypes that hold them back.

Together, Standard Chartered and the Akua Kuenyehia Foundation are building pathways of opportunity, transforming potential into achievement, and possibilities into purpose.