SIFE is an international non-profit that mobilizes university students to address issues in their communities through business concepts. Participating student teams develop projects that improve quality of life and standards of living. Teams present their work at regional and national competitions to business leader judges. National champions advance to the SIFE World Cup. The organization provides leadership and career opportunities for participants and companies seeking emerging talent.

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OVERVIEW OF SIFE (STUDENTS IN FREE ENTERPRISE)
SIFE is an international non-profit organization that works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university
students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders.
Participating students form teams on their university campuses and apply business concepts to develop outreach projects that
improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.
An annual series of regional and national competitions provides a forum for teams to present the results of their projects, and
to be evaluated by business leaders serving as judges.
National champion teams advance to the prestigious SIFE World Cup. In addition to the community aspect of the program,
SIFE’s leadership and career initiatives create meaningful opportunities for learning and exchange among the participants as
well as the placement of students and alumni with companies in search of emerging talent.
MISSION
To bring together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power
of business
BACKGROUND OF PROJECT
THE NEED ASSESSMENT
Over the years the Center for National Culture has presented traditional handicrafts in various forms from all over the Country:
it includes workshops and art galleries. There is an art and craft Bazaar and traditional textile market with souvenirs that have
been crafted in clay, wood, leather and metal. There is also indoor market with stalls footwear, tee shirts and souvenirs.
However daunting challenges remain our research revealed that there are over 2,700 Artisans in the Art Center also known as
the center for national culture who trade in there and moreover has over 25,000 dependents on them. Our need assessment
showed that the following were their major challenges:
They lack business and economic concepts to operate their businesses
They do not have enough funding opportunities at their door steps to expand business
The ART CENTER is not publicly known to drive customers to their business
Lack of formal education
Box G.P. 482, Accra, Ghana. Tel 0308 85 33 0r 0249487981
Email: ucomaccra@sifeghana.org

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Also filt has taken over some part of the center which prevents customers from coming in.
This and many more reasons why we want to improve the quality of lives and improve the standard of living of the artisans in
the ART CENTER of Ghana.
WHY WE ARE CONCERN
We are concern because the Center has a lot of potentials that can be tapped into to create the opportunities. Over the years
the center ensured that, those tourists who visit the country are highly fed with the country’s culture. We believe that the Center
can be revived into its fullest capacity so that the following would be achieved:
The quality of lives and the standard of living of the ARTSANS will be improved
Local entertainment and culture can be promoted to the international standard.eg. concert party and culture display
Attract more tourist to contribute to revenue generation
Attract more investors into the Art industry which in the long run will contribute to the country’s economic growth.
To drive traffic to the art center
INTERVENTIONS MADE ALREADY TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM
The management of the center over the years has made certain interventions to tackle the problems facing the center. It is
important to note that the center has undergone some transformation over the years which were all geared towards the solving
of some of the center’s problems. Here are some of the interventions made to solving the problems;
Arts and Culture Bazaar
The event was a series of cultural festivals that gave the indigenous artist, their representatives, and fair trade companies
around the world the chance to sell their work directly to the Ghanaian Public. The event also exposed over 2,000 Ghanaians
each year to indigenous Art, music and culture, while giving visitors a chance to talk with indigenous artisans directly.
Box G.P. 482, Accra, Ghana. Tel 0308 85 33 0r 0249487981
Email: ucomaccra@sifeghana.org

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The Bazaar always show case hundreds of Artisans and representatives and also the event propel them to sell traditional
crafts, artwork, clothing, jewelry, carpets and accessories.
Staging Of Local Entertainment at the Performance Theater
The center in addition to the Bazaar organized the local entertainment programs .e.g. the concert party show to drive traffic to
the center. The show also contributed to the publication of the center to some extent. This paved way for the public to know the
center which in the long run translated into the businesses of the artisans.
Workshops
The management of the center over the years has also organized workshops for only the leaders of the various art associations
in the center. This gave the leaders of the associations a slight experience in art business industry. Some of the workshops
organized had topics such; organization, bookkeeping etc.
OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
The following are the core objectives of the project:
Reviving the Center through business and economic approaches
To create more dynamic and competitive market in the ART industry
Promoting the country’s culture
Promoting the art industry as a lucrative and profitable business
Promoting the handicraft of artisans through the positive power of business
STRATEGIES
Our strategy is a socio-economic model that would provide business and economic concept to artisans which would give them
the edge over their businesses. The under listed strategies have been properly analyzed and considered and most importantly
if put into action can help improve the quality of lives of the artisans and their standard of living and also increase the economic
growth of the country.
Box G.P. 482, Accra, Ghana. Tel 0308 85 33 0r 0249487981
Email: ucomaccra@sifeghana.org

4. UCOMS
Artifest (artisan’s festival)
This event will be a three day quarterly event within the year which would provide artisans the opportunity to interact freely and
transact business with visitors across the worlds who are invited for this festival. Moreover the event would be series of cultural
festivals that will give the indigenous artist, their representatives, and fair trade companies around the world the chance to sell
their work directly to the Ghanaian Public.
The event will alsoexposed over 7,000 Ghanaians each year to indigenous Art, music and culture, while giving visitors a
chance to talk with indigenous artisans directly. The Bazaar will always show case hundreds of Artisans and representatives
and also the event will propel them to sell traditional crafts, artwork, clothing, jewelry, carpets and accessories.
The event will also see important people across the country which will give the artisans the confidence to work hard because
their work is been recognized. Awards will also be presented to deserving artisans during the celebration.
Staging local concert in the art center weekly (concert party)
This is one of the indigenous events which will drive traffic to the center. The resultant effect of driving traffic to the center is to
enable the public see what the artisans are capable of doing with the hand. In addition to that, the staging of this concert will
also be source of revenue for the center. In the long run the revenue generated would be used to create a better environment
for the business of artisans to go on well in the center.
Establishing a business and art educational center
The relevance of this business center is to promote the art industry as a lucrative business in the country. This will also mold
the business ideas of people who would be trained through this center.
In addition this will take off the perception in the minds of Ghanaians that artisans are mostly illiterates and rather motivate
people or otherwise Ghanaians to go into the education of this nature.
Organization of art review on the media to showcase successful entrepreneurs in the art industry
On this platform successful entrepreneurs who have made it through this industry would be invited to the show to educate the
public on how lucrative the Art industry is. It is also important note that the show would also introduce the artisans to new and
educative as well as innovative ways of expanding and managing their businesses.
Box G.P. 482, Accra, Ghana. Tel 0308 85 33 0r 0249487981
Email: ucomaccra@sifeghana.org

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Lastly the show would also publicize the location of the Art center and what they do. This will eventually drive traffic to the
center thereby increasing the sales of the artisans. This art review would also serve as a platform to sensitize the public to
patronize the handicraft of the artisans.
Organization of seminars and workshops
Seminars and workshops would be organized at various intervals within the year, at least three times in the year which would
cut across all business areas. This will enable the artisans to appreciate the essence of applying business in their daily
transactions.
Additionally, the seminars will also promote competition among the artisans which will translate into their business. Certificates
would also be presented to participants for their engagement in the seminar.
Documentaries would be made on the handicraft of artisans
Detailed documentary about the handicraft of the artisans would be prepared and sold to market the product of the artisans.
This will go a long way to let the public know the potentials that can be seen in the artisans.
The documentary will also indicate the location of the art center. This will in the long run increase the awareness of the art
center. The documentary will also encourage the Ghanaian populace to appreciate and patronize made in Ghana produce.
Box G.P. 482, Accra, Ghana. Tel 0308 85 33 0r 0249487981
Email: ucomaccra@sifeghana.org

6. UCOMS
OUTPUT OF PROJECT
The art can be part of a universal core of knowledge and skills that can be instrumental in assisting society achieve particular
individual, social and technological goals, or it can become central to the pursuit of knowledge, understanding and appreciation
of society’s cultural forms and expressions.
Below are the possible outputs of the project:
The project will promote cultural art and diversity
The programme has a for profit design, architecture, tourism and retail companies that will educate, entertain, and create jobs.
Public institutions will engage in education, training and economic development. World-class scientific and technical resources
will contribute to creativity and diversity at the center and the communities at large.
Capacity building
The project will improve the connectivity between people and institutions in order to enhance innovation to coordinate public
and private support in order to minimize redundancy and create a more competitive focus for the arts and cultural economy.
Itwill also strengthen the ties between the study of art and culture and economic development at both junior and senior levels of
our education.
Fund raising
It will establish a sustainable funding source for art and cultural organizations, particularly for small and medium sized
organization. It will also maximize the profit base of the artisan and will lead to the expansion of their businesses and
organizations.
Promotion of Culture
The project will protect and enhance the cultural resources of country. It will create cultural nodes across the country that will
stimulate arts participation. It will also distinguish artistic and cultural offerings of the country while building a more profitable
partnership with other companies. Lastly it will establish a lasting niche for cultural tourism and creative industries in a rapidly
evolving national and global economy.
Businesses linkages
The project will bring together stakeholders and the art industry and other companies as well who will have the opportunity to
launch a cordial relationship among themselves.
Box G.P. 482, Accra, Ghana. Tel 0308 85 33 0r 0249487981
Email: ucomaccra@sifeghana.org

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STAKE HOLDERS
Financial Institution
The financial institution would be engaged in the project so that they can be able to access financial education and also give
them financial assistance to expand their businesses. Their engagement in the project would also enable them sell their bank
product and their work efficiency to other people as they move with along with them in the project. It would also enable them
perform their corporate social responsibility as a company.
Center for national culture
The Center for national culture has been engaged in this project because they possess the requisite knowledge about the art
and its works. This will also give the artisans the opportunity to unfold their grievances to the authorities of the center.
Ministry of Trade and Industry
The ministry of trade and industry is the main brain behind the importation and the exportation of goods and services in the
country. Therefore, engaging them in this project will throw more light on how the artisans can engage in the importation and
exportation of goods and services.
Other stake holders in this project include:
 Ministry of tourism
 MUSIGA
 Mtn foundation
 Ghana Expo- Company limited
 Vodafone foundation
 Archyn origin and culture
BENIFICIARIES AND IMPACTS
Direct beneficiaries
Artisans
Box G.P. 482, Accra, Ghana. Tel 0308 85 33 0r 0249487981
Email: ucomaccra@sifeghana.org

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 Artisans would be able to maximize their profit base revenue and expand their business
 Their business would be enhanced through the business and economic approaches introduced in the project.
 They would also get direct business partnerships
 They would get free access to investment opportunities
Country
 More jobs would be created which would decrease the unemployment rate in the country
 More investors would be introduced into the country which would eventually translate into the economic growth of the
country.
 The illiteracy rate in the country would also reduce through our educative programmes within the project
Indirect beneficiaries
Stake holders
 Stake holders will get the opportunity advertise their products to the people they interact with in this project as well
visitors.
 Stake holders will also get direct business partnerships with other companies
 Publicity for donors
 They would also increase their customer base
Project leaders/organizers
 The project leaders would also acquire experience in project management
 They will also have the opportunity to perform their corporate social responsibility
PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
 The project emphasizes on strengthening and facilitating artisans led participatory initiatives and platforms, which are
crucial to getting them to own the project initiatives, build confidence within the art industry and also sustain the project
even after the grant period expires.
Box G.P. 482, Accra, Ghana. Tel 0308 85 33 0r 0249487981
Email: ucomaccra@sifeghana.org

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 The project will begin with a withdrawal strategy from day one onwards to practically facilitate the artisan to own
initiatives and act accordingly. It will seek to deepen transparency and accountability systems in the centre through
increased participation, ownership and sustainability of the interventions.
 SIFE-UCOMS will consistently enhance the capacity of key stakeholders which includes ministry of trade and industry,
ministry of culture and chieftaincy affairs, financial institution and the Media to gain relevant skills by the end of the
project to undertake planning, implementation ofactions and monitoring interventions towards achieving the intended
results.
SIFE-UCOMS will further forge a strong partnership with the art authorities, the Ministry of culture to develop standard
guidelines on reducing Failure and scale-up the implementation of the interventions to sustain the project.
 The project methodology, approach and structure are culturally sensitive and people centered thus strengthening the
sustainability of the project locally even beyond the project funding period. SIFE-UCOMS continue to exploit other
funding opportunities to sustain the project initiatives.
EVALUATION PLAN
Measurement, in the framework of monitoring, evaluation and knowledge generation, the project will develop key
baseline indicators against which the project outcomes will be measured. The indicators will focused on key issues
such as business enhancement, profit maximization and related issues. The project will be evaluated based on data
collected and will show the outcomes achieved through comparative analysis of the baseline data and the end of
project data.
 The main performance indicators that will be used to measure the impact of the project includes:
 Percentage increase in income of the business men in the art centre from an average of 25% to 65%
 Percentage increase in interest people have for art from an average estimate of 15% to 85%
 Percentage increase in business skill of artisans from an average estimate of 20% to 90%
Box G.P. 482, Accra, Ghana. Tel 0308 85 33 0r 0249487981
Email: ucomaccra@sifeghana.org

10. UCOMS
Box G.P. 482, Accra, Ghana. Tel 0308 85 33 0r 0249487981
Email: ucomaccra@sifeghana.org