OAVI provides free vocational training to the needy

A TOTAL of One hundred and sixty-eight youth have benefitted from a two-year free training programme at Outreach Africa Vocational Institute (OAVI).

The free vocational school founded by Bro. Dr. Dan Owusu Asiamah, a preacher of the Takoradi Churches of Christ was established in 2008 with the aim of providing free vocational training to the needy and orphan in society.

The school provide everything free from meals, materials such as school uniforms, books and pens for use by the students including transportation.

The beneficiaries are cut across the 10 regions in the country as well as Togo and Burkina Faso; Courses offered are catering, fashion, hairdressing and draftsmanship.

At the 5th Graduation and 10th anniversary of the school, Bro Dr. Dan Owusu Asiamah, Director of OAVI explained that the free Vocational school was established to help educate orphans and needy young people with skills that will enable them to be self-employed.

“778 needy and Orphans have graduated from the school since its inception in February 2008 and today, we are graduating 168 more; this brings the total number of OAVI graduates to 946” he added.

So far, he said a total of GHc973, 000 have been expended to get the youth the requisite skills, materials and tools to be fully equipped in their job specification.

Bro. Asiamah explained that most of the graduates from the school are current masters on their own with a lot of apprentices learning various trade.

This, he pointed out has created employment opportunity for the youth who have acquired skills in this direction.



Bro Asiamah wondered why churches that are mandated to care for the needy have turned a blind eye to the needy and orphans in society. “There is too much covetousness in Ghana today. Our inordinate affection for money and material things are getting out of proportion. As a people, we rather need to reflect soberly at how best we can help the millions amongst us who are living in abject poverty” he said.

“The last ten years have been so fascinating and adventurous to me. It feels good to help those in need especially in the name of God. The best satisfaction in life is derived from giving to the poor and needy” Bro Asiamah added.

Advising the graduands, Bro. Dr. Asiamah told them in plain language “I have played my part in your lives, now it is up to you to make good use of what u have gotten from me, your successes will always remain my joy and encouragement” he concluded. Bro Harvey Stow, a Missionary from the Church of Christ who led a delegation from the United State of America to witness the graduation and the ten year anniversary of the establishment of the OAVI congratulated the youths for successfully going through the training programme.

He encouraged the graduates to put into practice the training and skills that have been acquired; as you are going out of the school, go in the right direction and look into the future.

He commended the teachers, instructors and the Director of the school for a successful two-year training programme.

Some of the graduates received sewing machines, gas cylinders and stove, and dryer as well as cash ranging between GHc 300.00 to GHc 600.00 to be used as start up for their business.