Imagine a young girl in a small town, Nungua Buade of the Krowor Municipal District in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, dreaming of a brighter future despite the odds stacked against her. This was the reality for Grace Amponsah, the founder of  Bowney Initiative. Growing up with her three siblings, one of whom is a special needs child , Grace’s family struggled to make ends meet. Yet, her parents' commitment to education and the support  from her church instilled in her a desire to improve her family’s financial situation.

A turning point in Grace's life were the several acts of kindness she received from her mentor who now sits on Bowney’s advisory board. This experience became a pillar of her life's mission to give generously. At Ashesi University, her passion for community service emerged during a session on giving back led by the MasterCard Foundation’s Scholars Program. Recognizing the lack of opportunities for girls from similar backgrounds in Berekuso, a small community close to her school, Grace founded the Bowney Initiative to empower young girls to transcend their circumstances and reach their full potential.

In its early days, while combining Bowney with academic work at Ashesi, Grace spent countless hours during weekends organizing sessions for girls. In 2015, Grace won the Dalai Lama Fellowship program where she received $10,000 funding to expand the program. Despite facing challenges in program and financial management, these experiences provided invaluable lessons.

One of Bowney's shining success stories is Salomey. As Grace recounts, Despite severe family hardships, Salomey’s journey with Bowney has transformed her into a confident young lady who is excelling academically and aspires to become a lawyer or computer scientist. As Salomey put it, “Joining Bowney was like finding a light in the darkness.” 

To date, Bowney has empowered over 100 girls, providing them with the skills and confidence to pursue their dreams. Grace envisions Bowney partnering with numerous schools and becoming one of Ghana's premier organizations for adolescent girls within the next three years.

On a personal level, Bowney Initiative has been transformative for Grace. It has honed her leadership and interpersonal skills, bolstered her confidence, and deepened her sense of community. The journey has taught her the value of giving. While the path is fraught with challenges, the fulfillment from making a difference in the lives of young girls is unparalleled. 

Grace  currently holds a degree in Business Administration from Ashesi University and a Masters in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University. She is a MasterCard Foundation Scholar Alumni, Schwarzman Scholar Alumni, a LifeLong Fellow at Dalai Lama Fellows, Bryon Alumni Fellow, Women Changemakers for Education Alumni, 2019 Milead Fellow and a Compassionate Leadership Fellow.

Join Grace in supporting the Bowney Initiative. Together, we can light the path for countless girls like Salomey, guiding them toward a future where their dreams are within reach. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word, your contribution makes a difference