WE ALMOST DIDN’T APPLY!
(How a youth-led organization from Konongo, Ghana, secured funding from UN Women- and the lessons we learned along the way)

When I first came across the call for applications from UN Women under the WYDE | Women’s Leadership Project, funded by the European Union, I didn’t give it much thought. I literally dismissed it.

At the time, I believed that the Erudite Women’s Empowerment Foundation (EWEF) was still far from the level required to secure such a prestigious international grant. I assumed this opportunity was meant for bigger, more established organizations, not us.
So, I let it go.
But sometimes, what is meant for you finds its way back.
Not long after, we received an email from Plan International Ghana. They were preparing an application for the same grant and wanted to collaborate with EWEF as an intermediary partner.

That moment felt like a door opening.

It was both affirming and exciting. For us, it meant visibility. It meant trust. It meant that an organization with the stature of Plan International saw value in what we were doing. More importantly, it offered us a chance to stand on their shoulders and connect to global systems we had once thought were out of reach. We embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm.

But the story took an unexpected turn.

Just two days later, another email came in.
They had taken a closer look at the eligibility criteria and realized they did not meet all the requirements; specifically, they did not have a female Country Director.

Then came the twist that would redefine our journey: one of their staff members, Ms. Joyce Obenewaa (we worked with her on the She Leads Project), had recommended EWEF. She believed we met all the criteria.
In that moment, everything shifted. The opportunity we had once overlooked was now being placed directly in our hands, not as a supporting partner, but as a lead applicant.

Even more encouraging, Plan International Ghana offered to support us in drafting a winning proposal.
And that’s when the real work began.
I quickly reached out to my team, and we got to work- fast. The deadline was just three days away.

Three days. Oh mine!

To make it even more intense, I was heavily pregnant at the time. But there was no room to slow down. Night after night, I stayed awake, working closely with my team, pulling ideas together, drafting, reviewing, refining, driven by something bigger than exhaustion.
We completed the proposal and submitted it to Plan International Ghana for review. After going through the document, they scheduled a virtual meeting with our team to finalize everything. We made the necessary revisions, aligned on key details, and submitted the final proposal…

Just about two hours before the deadline. Haha… we really did that.

But even after all that effort, I had no expectation of winning.
Imposter syndrome was real.
In my mind, this was simply an opportunity to show Plan International Ghana that we were a serious, driven, and capable organization. That alone felt like a win.

And then…boom.
We received an email from UN Women on 12th January, 2026…
We had been shortlisted for due diligence… out of over 800 applicants worldwide.
Honestly, it didn’t feel real.
I read the email over and over again, trying to process it. But it was true. That moment marked the beginning of a new chapter for us, one that led to EWEF becoming a grant recipient under the WYDE | Women’s Leadership Project.

We are grateful to UN Women for believing in and investing in youth-led organizations like EWEF. Too often, young organizations with innovative ideas and strong community connections are overlooked because of their size or limited track record. By trusting youth-led organizations with resources and opportunities, UN Women is not only funding projects, it is empowering a new generation of leaders and changemakers to drive sustainable development from the grassroots. Their confidence in organizations like EWEF has enabled us to expand our impact and contribute meaningfully to advancing the rights, leadership, and empowerment of women and girls in Ghana.

Looking back, I am deeply grateful to God for hearing my prayers and making what seemed impossible, possible.
To Ms. Joyce Obenewaa, I am incredibly thankful for your recommendation, you saw something in us that we hadn’t fully seen in ourselves.
And to Plan International Ghana, thank you for believing in us, guiding us, and holding our hands throughout the process.
And to my team at EWEF, your commitment to the vision is so admirable. May God come through for you always.

This experience reminded me of one powerful truth:
Sometimes, you may not feel ready for the opportunity, but the opportunity knows you are ready.

EWEF… Making Every Girl Count.

Follow our journey here:
www.eruditewomen.org