Global Women Impact’s flagship program, REFRESH 2025, concluded on August 27th, leaving behind a trail of transformed lives and renewed hope.
This two-day initiative exemplified our core belief that true empowerment knows no boundaries and that every woman, regardless of her circumstances, deserves dignity, opportunity, and the chance to rebuild her life.
The program began on August 26th with women gathering at a guest house for an intensive day of personal development and skill acquisition. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation as participants engaged in insightful and educative sessions designed to expand their knowledge, boost their confidence, and equip them with practical tools for personal and professional growth.
Day two marked the heart of REFRESH 2025 as we took our mission of empowerment directly to those who need it most – the female inmates at Kumba Central Prison.
The day began with a comprehensive health education session delivered by our valued partner, Optimum Health Global. Understanding that health is the foundation of all empowerment, this session provided vital information about women’s health, wellness practices, and preventive care. The knowledge shared wasn’t just theoretical – it was practical, actionable information that these women could implement immediately to improve their quality of life. Following the health session, Optimum Health Global demonstrated their commitment to these women’s wellbeing by donating essential hygiene kits, ensuring that health education was coupled with the practical tools needed to maintain good health and personal dignity.
Mental health, often overlooked in institutional settings, took center stage through a powerful therapy session led by our partner organization, Women of Valor Global. Under the expert guidance of counselor Sophia Besingi, participants engaged in therapeutic activities designed to address trauma, build resilience, and foster emotional healing. This session provided a safe space for women to process their experiences, share their stories, and begin the journey toward mental and emotional restoration. The impact was immediate and profound, as women who had felt forgotten and isolated discovered that their mental health mattered and that healing was possible.
The skill training component of the program focused on practical, marketable abilities that could provide immediate economic opportunities. The pedicure and foot care training session was more than just learning a beauty treatment – it was about dignity, self-care, and economic empowerment. Participants learned not only the technical aspects of providing quality pedicure services but also the business fundamentals of turning this skill into a sustainable source of income.
Afterwards, there was a teaching session by the founder and executive director of Global Women Impact, Madam Ebai Blanche where she encouraged the inmates letting them know they are valuable, they shouldn’t give you on self development, portraying the right character, accepting transformation and they can BECOME and EMERGE.
We also donated gifts like toiletries, hygiene kits, detergents, garri, and sugar etc
Perhaps, the most beautiful moment of the entire program was when we shared meals and drinks together. In that simple act of breaking bread together, barriers dissolved, and we were reminded of our shared humanity. The joy and laughter that filled the room, the tears of gratitude, and the genuine connections formed in those moments created memories that will last a lifetime.
For the inmates, it was a reminder that they are valued and loved. For our team and participants, it was a humbling reminder of the privilege we have to serve and the responsibility we bear to lift others up.
The success of REFRESH 2025 would not have been possible without our incredible partners. Optimum Health Global, Women of Valor Global, Lead Child Africa, New breed etc
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