Empowerment
Transforming Lives Through Vocational Training
Who We Are
Empowering Girls and Young Women
About The Daughters Of Charity Of Saint Vincent De Paul
The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic congregation of consecrated women founded in 1633 by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac in France.
Rooted deeply in the Gospel of Christ, they have since become a global community, passionately dedicated to the holistic service of the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized in society.
About The Daughters Of Charity Of Saint Vincent De Paul
Guided by the spirit of their founders and inspired by the words of Jesus, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40), the Daughters of Charity believe in living a community life that reflects the compassionate love of Christ.
Their mission is not merely a social one it is spiritual, anchored in the belief that the first missionary is Jesus Christ himself, who walked among the poor, healed the broken, and welcomed the outcast.
St. Louise de Marillac, in particular, saw the Holy Humanity of Jesus as the core of her spirituality. To her, Christ was not a distant figure but present and alive in every person in need. Together with St. Vincent de Paul, she believed that “Charity is infinitely inventive”, and the call to serve the poor is a direct participation in the salvific mission of Christ.
The Daughters of Charity’s Constitution affirms that they are called to “help all persons without discrimination men, women, and children especially every poor person who needs them” (DC Constitution #10). Their service flows from humility, simplicity, and charity expressions of their deep faith in God and love for humanity.
The Daughters of Charity today continue this sacred legacy through concrete actions in health care, education, pastoral care, and especially vocational empowerment as seen in the work of the St. Louise de Marillac Vocational Training Centre (VTC), Appiadu-Kumasi, Ghana. There, young girls and women are not only trained in practical skills but are also given the hope, dignity, and faith to rise above their situations and live with purpose.
Empowering Girls and Young Women
About The St Louise De Marillac Vocational Training Centre
One such place is St. Louise de Marillac Vocational Training Centre, established on 25 January 2013 through the generous support of the Vebego Foundation.
With a shared commitment to youth empowerment and social development, the Foundation helped make the centre a reality. Since its founding, the centre has provided support and direction to over five hundred (500) girls and young women.
About The St Louise De Marillac Vocational Training Centre
The centre is a residential charity home that provides a safe and stable environment for girls and young women living in vulnerable situations. Many of them have experienced abandonment, hardship or exploitation and arrive in need of security, care, and encouragement.
Within this supportive setting, they are nurtured physically, emotionally and spiritually and are offered the opportunity to begin building a brighter, more independent future.
In addition to its long-term residential care, the centre also offers temporary shelter and support for victims of human trafficking and other forms of exploitation. These young women are given urgent care, counselling and protection in a dignified and secure environment while arrangements are made for their safe reintegration or return to their home countries.
At the heart of the centre’s mission is empowerment through vocational skills training, entrepreneurship and agricultural learning. Trainees receive practical instruction in hairdressing, catering and dressmaking, and are guided in how to start and manage small businesses. This training is complemented by life skills education and exposure to basic agricultural practices, which together offer pathways to sustainable employment and self-reliance.
The staffs, both Daughters of Charity and committed lay professionals, work as one to create a positive, disciplined and respectful environment. Each young woman is treated as a person of worth, with unique potential. Beyond technical training, the Centre fosters character development, confidence and spiritual growth, helping each trainee to take ownership of her journey with courage and hope.
Through this deeply human and quietly transformative work, the Daughters of Charity continue to live out their enduring mission: to love and serve those in need with humility, simplicity, and heartfelt charity.
Empowering Girls and Young Women
Background
As the initiative evolved, it became evident that girls and young women faced particular challenges, often including experiences of poverty, abuse, neglect or exploitation.
Some were at risk of being trafficked, while others had already endured such trauma. Recognising this, the Daughters of Charity saw the need for a dedicated facility that could offer not only protection but also holistic support including physical, emotional and spiritual care alongside skills training for long-term empowerment.
Background
Initially, girls interested in vocational training were enrolled in different centres across the region. However, receiving such training externally was not always suited to their specific needs or circumstances.
The Sisters envisioned a facility that would integrate care, protection and skill development in a nurturing environment specifically designed to support the girls’ healing, growth, and future independence
This led to the idea of establishing a residential vocational training centre that would serve as a safe and welcoming space accessible to all in need, irrespective of background or belief.
This vision came to fruition on 25 January 2013, with the inauguration of the St. Louise de Marillac Vocational Training Centre, built with the generous support of the Vebego Foundation. The Foundation’s commitment to youth empowerment and community development played a vital role in realising the centre.
Since its establishment, the centre has remained committed to supporting girls and young women in vulnerable situations by offering a combination of residential care, counselling, vocational training, and entrepreneurship development. The centre serves as a safe home where girls receive shelter, nourishment, healthcare, spiritual formation, and life skills. The environment encourages personal growth, dignity, and long-term self-reliance.
In addition, the centre also provides temporary shelter for survivors of human trafficking, offering trauma-informed support until the necessary arrangements are made for reintegration or safe return to their families and communities.
To date, the St. Louise de Marillac Vocational Training Centre has impacted the lives of over 500 girls and young women. Its mission continues to be inspired by the charism of the Daughters of Charity—loving and serving Christ in persons who are poor—while fostering a community of care, empowerment, and transformation.
Our Commitment
Dedicated to Empowerment and Transformation
Our Mission
We strive to provide comprehensive vocational training and holistic support to vulnerable girls and young women, equipping them with essential skills and nurturing their spiritual growth, enabling them to lead independent and fulfilling lives.
Our Vision
We envision a society where every girl and young woman, regardless of her past, has the opportunity to thrive, free from trafficking, equipped with skills and confidence to shape her future.
Achievements
1. Provision of a safe, structured environment for many vulnerable girls and young women.
2. Continues to offer holistic support including shelter, meals, healthcare, counselling and moral guidance to its beneficiaries.
3. Trained hundreds of beneficiaries in employable skills such as sewing, catering and hairdressing, enhancing their ability to become self-reliant.
Future Plans
1. Register with Ghana TVET for accreditation and certification.
2. Expand existing facilities to accommodate more beneficiaries, including the construction of additional dormitories, classrooms and workshops.
3. Introduce new vocational options such as cosmetology etc.
4. Conduct awareness campaigns on the dangers of streetism especially girls and promote the centre’s services to reach more at-risk girls in Kumasi and beyond.
