Report on the “Awaken Your Inner Goddess” (AYIG) Women’s Empowerment Programme

Introduction

In May 2025, the “Awaken Your Inner Goddess” (AYIG) programme was launched as a personal development initiative aimed at empowering women. This report highlights the programme’s objectives, leadership, challenges, and future plans, with a focus on its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Programme Overview and Leadership

AYIG was founded by Mariam Majeed, a branding strategist, women’s empowerment advocate, and mindset coach. Mariam’s work integrates three core pillars:

• Branding
• Empowerment
• Mindset Development

Her academic background includes a Master’s degree in Brand and Communication Management. Initially focused on brand consulting for startups, Mariam’s passion evolved towards supporting women’s success in business, mindset, and self-worth. AYIG serves as a mentorship platform where women can shift limiting beliefs, reclaim confidence, and rise boldly.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • AYIG empowers women by providing mentorship and creating safe spaces for personal growth.
   • The programme promotes women’s leadership and economic participation, contributing to gender equality.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Through mindset coaching and empowerment workshops, AYIG enhances educational opportunities for women beyond formal education.
   • The programme fosters lifelong learning and skills development.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • AYIG supports women entrepreneurs and professionals to build sustainable careers and businesses.
   • By enhancing confidence and mindset, the programme contributes to economic growth and productive employment.

Genesis of the AYIG Programme

AYIG was officially launched on Mariam Majeed’s 28th birthday as a mentorship space on LinkedIn. The initiative was born out of increasing demand from young women seeking guidance and empowerment. Mariam also holds the position of Vice President at The Alliance for Women’s Economic Development (AWED), where she leads impactful programmes across Ghana, further supporting SDG 5 and SDG 8.

Challenges Encountered

• Operational disruptions due to unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather and power outages.
• Maintaining participant engagement, as some interested individuals lose momentum or become unresponsive.

Despite these challenges, the programme continues to provide safe spaces and heartfelt mentorship, reinforcing the message that women are enough and capable of rising.

Future Plans and Impact

Mariam Majeed envisions expanding AYIG through:

• Launching an annual summit to gather and inspire women leaders.
• Scaling mentorship programmes into underserved communities, promoting inclusivity and reducing inequalities (SDG 10).
• Developing leadership programmes across Africa to foster women’s empowerment continent-wide.

These plans align with multiple SDGs, including SDG 5, SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), emphasizing collaboration and sustainable development.

Conclusion

The “Awaken Your Inner Goddess” programme exemplifies a holistic approach to women’s empowerment, integrating branding, mindset development, and mentorship. It contributes significantly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by fostering gender equality, quality education, and economic growth. The leadership of Mariam Majeed and the commitment of the AYIG community continue to inspire and uplift women across Ghana and beyond.

Additional Information

For more information and to engage with the programme and related initiatives, the following platforms are available:

• Asaase Radio Website
• Social Media: X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube channels under the Asaase brand

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article focuses on women’s empowerment, mentorship, and leadership development, which directly relate to achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Through mentorship and mindset development programs, the article highlights efforts to provide inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for women.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article mentions women’s economic development and leadership programs, which align with promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Scaling mentorship into underserved communities and creating safe spaces for women address reducing inequalities within and among countries.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life.
   • Target 5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university.
   • Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, and a culture of peace and non-violence.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation.
   • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. SDG 5 Indicators
   • Proportion of women in leadership positions and decision-making roles (implied by mentorship and leadership programs).
   • Use of digital platforms (LinkedIn) to empower women, indicating access to technology and digital inclusion.
2. SDG 4 Indicators
   • Number of women participating in mentorship and personal development programs (implied by AYIG program participation).
   • Access to quality education and training opportunities for women (implied through mindset development and empowerment coaching).
3. SDG 8 Indicators
   • Number of women engaged in economic development programs and entrepreneurship (implied by AWED leadership and empowerment initiatives).
   • Employment rates or creation of decent work opportunities for women (implied by focus on economic empowerment).
4. SDG 10 Indicators
   • Inclusion of underserved communities in mentorship and leadership programs (implied by plans to scale mentorship).
   • Reduction in inequalities in access to empowerment and leadership opportunities for women.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: asaaseradio.com