The Story of DICE- From Launch to Graduation
Before we launched Digital Inclusion for Craft Enterprises (DICE) at Thrive Nest, we had one big question in mind: What would happen if artisans in our informal apprenticeship sector were given the chance to use digital tools to grow their businesses?
For years, tailors, hairdressers, weavers, and beauticians have carried the backbone of Ghana’s local economy, yet many of them lacked visibility, financial knowledge, and confidence to embrace technology. With smartphones in their pockets and limited know-how, the digital divide is clear. DICE was created to bridge that gap.
The Beginning
We started with a bold mission, to train a cohort of master crafts in basic digital literacy, digital marketing, and financial literacy. Working closely with the Informal Apprenticeship Division of the Ghana TVET Service, we designed the program based on a series of stakeholder engagements with leaders of craft associations.
The pilot kicked off at Thrive Nest’s training space with 20 artisans from dressmaking, cosmetology, weaving, and hairdressing. For five (5) weeks, these artisans committed to learning and applying new skills that would change how they run their businesses.
The Training Experience
Over the weeks, participants were introduced to:
- Setting up professional business pages on facebook and Instagram
- Setting up catalogs on WhatsApp Business
- Navigating tools like ChatGPT to create captions for social media.
- Basic logo and graphic design with Canva
- Exploring photography basics for product marketing with their smartphones
- Financial literacy sessions, including record-keeping and mobile money safety
- Customer service strategies to improve client relations
The sessions were practical, hands-on, and rooted in the tools participants already owned, their smartphones.
Success Stories That Inspire
The impact was visible almost immediately. A tailor who had never thought of using social media proudly shared how she opened a Facebook page and received her first customer through it. Rukaya, a hairdresser began posting styled hair photos with captions and started posting on LinkedIn.
Hamdia, a liquid soap maker now sends instant thank you message after making a purchase.
Graduation and Moving Forward
On graduation day, the room was filled with pride. Certificates were presented, and participants shared personal testimonies of how they were already using what they had learned. The Regional Head of TVET Services, Humaima Abdul Wahab encouraged them to take the training seriously as a way of staying relevant in a fast-changing world.
The pilot showed us the untapped potential within Ghana’s informal sector, and why bridging the digital divide is urgent.
What’s Next
As we plan for the next cohort, we are determined to scale the program, improve based on lessons learned, and deepen our support to artisans. The goal is to ensure that no craft person is left behind in the digital age.
Because when artisans grow, communities thrive.