22 Trainees Inducted Onto Skills Training
Sunyani, October 2, 2023
The Sunyani Youth Development Association (SYDA) on Thursday inducted 22 new trainees enrolled onto the Association’s employable Skills Training Programs.
The inductees were about 95 per cent females, mostly teenage single mothers who would be trained in Fashion, Hairdressing, Kente weaving, Smock weaving, Cosmetology, Bead Crafts, Auto Mechanic, Solar Energy Technology, Wood Technology (carpentry), Bicycle repairs, Catering and Decorations.
The induction was during the inauguration of phase two of the Association’s Skills Training Project initiated to support the livelihoods of vulnerable youth in the Bono region and Ghana at large.
The program was on the theme: “Resourcing TVET Facilities to enhance Entrepreneurship Development and Job Creation”.
The project was inaugurated by the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) through their support to acquire additional tools, machines and materials for the expansion of the skills training equipments.
In all, there are 95 sewing machines including 25 industrial sewing machines with the remaining being hand and other electric sewing machines at the fashion department.
The other departments like the Auto Mechanic, Textile Hand weaving (Kente), bead crafts, aluminum fabrication and hairdressing also benefited from the GIIF support.
SYDA Skills Training Project was birthed after the Association embarked on youth and community development advocacy between 2016 and 2018.
After the community advocacies in the said years, management of the Association realized the talking alone can not solve the problem, but also in a way embark on a direct impact project that would make the unemployed youth self-sufficient.
This idea was discussed with Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II, the late Paramount Chief of Sunyani Traditional Area and President of the Sunyani Traditional Council, Mr. Atta Akoto Senior, President of SYDA explained in a speech.
He added the late Nana Bosoma II and the entire Council threw in their support to make our idea a reality, hence, the introduction of the “SYDA Integrated Sewing Project”.
H.E Ambassador George Kumi, a Board Member of GIIF on behalf of the Board reiterated Ghana government’s commitment to making Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) the game changer in the socioeconomic and livelihoods development of Ghanaians.
In that manner, he noted “handicraft skill training initiatives like that of SYDA worth supporting because that’s the possible means to help reduce the chunk youthful unemployment situation in Ghana and the African Continent”.
As part of sustainability approach, H.E Ambassador Kumi appealed to the Sunyani Municipal Assembly and the Ghana TVET Service to support the SYDA Skills Training Cnetre through the Assembly’s skills fund.
On behalf of Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister, Mr. John Ansu Kumi, the Municipal Chief Executive thanked the GIIF Board for the logistical support to improve the skills development initiative that would create employment opportunities for young people of Sunyani and the Bono region.
Mr. Ansu Kumi pledged the Assembly’s support to the Centre and encouraged the inductees to take advantage of the opportunity so they can also help train others.
The well attended colourful event was witnessed by Heads of departments at the Bono Regional Coordinating Council, the Ghana TVET Service, Security Agencies, Cooperate Organization, Associations, Traditional Authorities, Disability Organization and the general public.
Thefourlens.com
Writer’s email: ttchrietoph1@gmail.com
