The Jelvis Foundation has once again demonstrated its commitment to grassroots empowerment with the launch of a new initiative called “Jelvis Sika Pa Loan.”
The project, announced publicly by Mr. Jelvis Kwame Baidoo, founder and Team Lead of the foundation, is designed to offer interest-free petty loans to residents of the Effiakuma community who are struggling to start or sustain their small businesses.
The goal is simple but powerful: reduce unemployment by empowering local entrepreneurs with capital—without the burden of high interest rates.
In a heartfelt post shared by Mr. Baidoo on his personal Facebook page, he recounted a moving encounter that inspired the initiative. While walking through Effiakuma, he met a woman who sells popcorn on the roadside. Her energy was low and her expression, according to Jelvis, “full of stress and sadness.”
He approached her and asked what was wrong. The woman, a single mother, shared her story. She was using the small popcorn business to take care of her children, but the loan she had taken to start her business came with high interest rates and rigid payment deadlines. The financial pressure was draining her emotionally and physically.
“I was touched,” Mr. Baidoo wrote. “This woman is trying her best, not begging anyone, but just needs a fair chance. That’s when I knew we had to step in.”
The “Jelvis Sika Pa Loan” project was born out of that moment. The foundation aims to offer flexible, interest-free loans to hardworking individuals who need a push—not a burden—to grow their businesses.
“If we can give people a small push, they can create something big,” Mr. Baidoo said.
“The vision is not just to give money, but to create a wave of self-reliant entrepreneurs in Effiakuma and beyond.”
Unemployment, especially among youth and single parents, remains a major issue in many parts of Ghana. By addressing access to fair capital, the Jelvis Foundation hopes to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of people who are often ignored by traditional lending institutions.
The foundation will begin with a pilot phase, supporting select community members in Effiakuma. The loans will focus on small-scale traders, street food vendors, artisans, and young people looking to start side businesses.
Loan recipients will also be guided with basic financial training, mentorship, and access to local support networks to help them succeed and repay sustainably.
Jelvis Foundation’s approach is unique because it prioritizes trust and compassion over profit. The foundation believes that when you invest in people, not only do you change lives, but you also build stronger communities.
“This is not charity. It’s empowerment,” Mr. Baidoo emphasized. “We believe in these people. All they need is the right opportunity.”
The “Sika Pa Loan” project is one more way the Jelvis Foundation is fulfilling its mission of “Connecting Our Communities” through real action and lasting change.
