In Dambai, a lakeside community, 45 women working as hairdressers, makeup artists, and beauticians formed an association to strengthen their livelihoods. For a long time, their households depended on one source of income, which often made it difficult to meet daily needs.
According to the group, income from beauty services was uncertain for many years. Some days were good, others were not. Household needs, including food, school fees, healthcare, and rent, continued to increase, leaving many families vulnerable to economic shocks. This experience is common in vulnerable communities where limited economic opportunities heighten insecurity and stress.
Recognising the need to reduce this vulnerability, the women came together to explore ways to diversify their income sources. With support from the SOCO Project’s Local Economic Development (LED) grant, they identified groundnut paste production as a viable and locally rooted business with steady demand. The grant provided start-up capital and helped turn a shared idea into a collective enterprise.
The impact was immediate. In a discussion with the group, they indicated that income from the groundnut paste business now complements earnings from beauty services, helping members better manage household expenses and plan. Working together has strengthened trust, cooperation, and social cohesion within the group, key foundations for resilience in communities facing economic and social pressures.
According to Francisca Agbozo, Secretary of the association, the change has gone beyond income.
“Hairdressing is what we know and what we do every day, but we realised it was not enough. We decided to diversify our income and start something new. SOCO did not just give us money. We also received training based on our business plan and support to brand our groundnut paste, so it is easy to identify and different from others in the market,” she said.
For Grace Gomelesio, the Organiser of the association, collective action has been just as important as financial gains.
“Working together has brought us closer. We plan together, we save together, and we support each other. This has strengthened our unity and helped us feel more secure as women in this community,” she explained.
Looking ahead, the women are focused on sustainability and growth. The association plans to reinvest its profits to acquire a milling machine, which will increase production capacity, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. This will allow them to serve neighbouring towns and larger markets, including Accra, while creating additional local economic opportunities.
Their journey reflects the broader goals of the SOCO Project: promoting community-driven development, strengthening social cohesion, supporting women’s economic inclusion, and building resilient communities. By supporting livelihood diversification and collective enterprise, the project helps reduce economic vulnerability and contributes to long-term stability.
The experience of the Dambai Lakeside Hairdressers & Beauticians Association highlights how livelihood diversification and collective action can strengthen household stability. With the right support, small groups can turn local ideas into lasting economic opportunities.
