CARE Ghana hosts KNUST students on educational visit to cocoa project community
CARE Ghana has facilitated an educational field visit for thirty-two final-year students from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to one of its flagship project sites under the PROSPER initiative.
The visit, which took place at KD Sresso in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region, was organised to deepen the students’ practical understanding of rural development interventions.
The students, all pursuing a BSc. in Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, were accompanied by lecturers from the Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension at KNUST. The field trip introduced them to the operations of international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) like CARE Ghana and highlighted how participatory development models are implemented in rural and agricultural settings.
KD Sresso is one of 108 communities benefiting from the PROSPER III project—an initiative by CARE Ghana funded by global food giant, Cargill. The project focuses on strengthening inclusive governance, enhancing women’s participation in decision-making, and improving food security, education, and child protection in cocoa-growing communities.
“This experience is critical to developing the practical capacity of our students,” said Dr Patric Appiah, a Senior Lecturer at the department. “It will help them understand the world of development initiatives and how to navigate and implement them effectively.”
As part of the visit, the students engaged with community members and observed first-hand the outcomes of gender-focused and livelihood-enhancing interventions. CARE Ghana used the opportunity to share its methodologies on gender mainstreaming and participatory development.
“We are excited to host these students and share our knowledge and experience with them, as it reinforces our commitment to empowering young people,” said Zakaria Yakubu, Head of Programmes at CARE Ghana.
The initiative was inspired by the recent handover of farming and community equipment by CARE Ghana and Cargill to several project communities under PROSPER III.
Launched in 2016, the PROSPER (Promoting a Sustainable and Food Secured World) project is currently in its third phase. It targets 360,200 individuals in 265 communities across 15 districts in the Western North, Ashanti, and Central regions. To date, it has reached over 77,000 participants—69% of whom are women.
CARE Ghana said it is proud to collaborate with academic institutions like KNUST to help nurture the next generation of agricultural professionals and development practitioners.
CARE International, CARE Ghana’s parent organisation, has operated in Ghana since 1994, focusing on the empowerment of women and girls, climate resilience, agriculture, and inclusive governance.
