About Unchartered Paths Initiative
700+
600
Students reached through school engagement campaigns
Youth mentored across 8 communities
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Active Volunteers driving community change
The Uncharted Paths Initiative (UPI) is a youth-led nonprofit empowering young people from Ghana’s low-income communities to transform their lives and lead change.
Founded by two young women who grew up in underserved communities, UPI was born from lived experience and a belief that where you start should not determine how far you can go.
Through our four pathways: Mentorship, Skills Development, Advocacy, and Volunteer Networks, we equip children and youth with the tools, guidance, and opportunities to overcome social barriers and build purposeful futures.
At UPI, we see young people not as problems to be fixed but as partners in creating change. By opening access to opportunity, dignity, and leadership, we are helping them move from barriers to pathways, shaping a generation that believes in possibility, equity, and community transformation.
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Uncharted Paths Initiative
Dzigbordi Akosua Agbenyo is a social policy analyst and human rights advocate with nearly a decade of experience advancing youth empowerment, justice, and social inclusion in Ghana and across Africa. Growing up in Ashaiman, one of Ghana’s most underserved communities, she witnessed firsthand the challenges of poverty, stigma, and limited opportunity, experiences that shaped her lifelong commitment to creating pathways of dignity and possibility for young people.
Her academic journey reflects this commitment to justice and transformation. She holds a BA in Sociology and Social Work from KNUST and an LLB from GIMPA, alongside advanced training in leadership, social entrepreneurship, and trauma-informed care. This unique grounding enables her to merge legal, social, and policy perspectives in addressing the challenges young people face.
Professionally, Dzigbordi has contributed to initiatives with UNAIDS, UNFPA, and International Justice Mission, leading programs on child protection, youth empowerment, stigma reduction, and gender equality. Alongside her professional career, she has spent more than a decade volunteering with youth in low-income communities, mentoring and amplifying their voices.
As Co-Founder and CEO of the Uncharted Paths Initiative (UPI), Dzigbordi is institutionalizing this work. Under her leadership, UPI equips young people in underserved communities with mentorship, skills, and advocacy to disrupt cycles of poverty and exclusion. She believes that lasting transformation begins when young people are trusted with their voices and visions.
Dzigbordi Akosua Agbenyo
Shaukia Yakubu
Shaukia Yakubu is a multidisciplinary force driving change across business, community development, and advocacy. She serves as Director of Specialized Sales at IBS Consulting, a global education and career mobility firm. There, she leads international market expansion and revenue strategies and champions access to education and career opportunities for young professionals.
Her academic journey reflects a deliberate investment in understanding systems and people. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Social Work, a Master’s in Marketing Strategy, and is currently completing an MSc in International Business. This multidisciplinary lens allows her to navigate corporate boardrooms and underserved communities with equal fluency, making her a rare bridge between commerce and conscience.
She is also the founder of Sinibik Ventures, a wellness-centered business improving health accessibility, and co-founder of Samplecare Ghana Ltd., a social enterprise advancing diagnostic access and health equity.
As Co-Founder and Director of Partnerships and Sustainability at the Uncharted Paths Initiative (UPI), Shaukia is institutionalizing her long-standing commitment to youth. Drawing on her own story of growing up in Sunyani Zongo, she leads UPI’s efforts to break cycles of poverty, substance abuse, and exclusion. For her, UPI is not just a response to neglect but a reimagining of what is possible when young people are trusted with tools, dignity, and direction.
Co-Founder & Director of Partnerships and Sustainability, Uncharted Paths Initiative
Our Vision
A generation of empowered youth shaping their own paths to opportunity and change.
To empower young people from low-income communities to build self-reliance, amplify their voices, and lead change.
Empowerment: We operate with transparency and integrity in all our programs and partnerships.
Equity and Inclusion: Every young person, no matter their background, deserves opportunity,
dignity, and a voice.
Integrity: We act with honesty, transparency, and accountability in everything we do.
Collaboration: We believe lasting change happens when communities and partners work
together.
Innovation & Learning: We challenge limits, embrace creativity, and grow through continuous learning.
Service & Compassion: We lead with empathy, giving back to uplift others and build stronger
communities.
Our Mission
Our values
Mentorship Hubs
Skill Bootcamps
Anti Drug & Healthy Living
Youth Policy Roundtables
Youth Ambassadors Programme
Where We Work
In Ghana’s low-income communities, we help children and young people turn barriers into pathways, unlocking potential, purpose, and opportunity.
Location
Our mentorship hubs are currently open to young people in Ashaiman, and Sunyani Zongo
Hours
9 AM - 5 PM
Get in touch
We would love to hear from you! Whether you’re a young person eager to learn, a partner exploring collaboration, or a supporter who believes in empowering youth, your message matters to us. Together, let’s turn barriers into pathways of opportunity, connection, and impact.