WHAT WE DO

PATEX ENTERPRISE is a self-funded organisation based in Northern Ghana and was established by Patience Teni Bawa.

PATEX ENTERPRISE has a prime objective: to assist the poor rural women of Northern Ghana in earning decent incomes from the fruits of their labours in order to care for their children.

Northern Ghana is the most deprived region of the 10 regions in Ghana. Coupled with harsh weather conditions and a very erratic rainfall pattern, the majority of the people remain poor. It has been observed that women and children become the worst victims of this vicious cycle of poverty.

Patex is convinced that when women can find a market for the products they create, the income received can improve their own and their children's lives. We believe when the woman can create an income, no matter how small, the trickle-down effect, putting food into the bowl of a child, is a way of easing the pain and promoting self-esteem for the women, children and village.

HOW PATEX ORGANISES ITS ACTIVITIES

Women with the skills to create handicrafts such as baskets, beads and pottery are identified in the community. Market opportunities are sought for these products and when an order is received, women are engaged to produce the specified item.

Before production starts, each woman is asked to list her needs in terms of priority. These may include food such as maize, cooking utensils, cloth, children's school uniforms, school fees etc. Patex buys these items and gives them to the women. Whatever she produces, she is paid half of the money for her daily up-keep and the other half goes to pay for whatever she took as a need. This cycle continues, she finishes paying for what she has received and obtains the next item on her needs list.

If an order is received for an item which a woman doesn't have the skills to produce (for example, the masks), we can take and forward the order, providing more seed money for the priority list staples.

Currently our product line includes: baskets, wood carvings, masks, drums, mud cloths and hand-made beads.