World Vision donates to youth training in Bongo District

Bongo (U/E), Feb. 25, GNA- World Vision International (WVI), a non-governmental organisation, has given 51 young people in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region who have undergone a three-year vocational training, equipment worth 52.5 million cedis to start their trades.

The training programme was sponsored by the World Vision, and beneficiaries were taught a variety of skills including carpentry, Masonry, Tailoring, Dressmaking, Catering, Hairdressing, Cloth Weaving, Auto Mechanics, and Motor-bike Mechanics.

Mr Mahami Salifu, Upper East Regional Minister who presented the items on behalf of WVI to the beneficiaries, asked them to work hard and apply their talents to meet the demands of their customers.

"Innovation and creativity is the one thing you will need to make your products more attractive, he said and advised them to use the equipment well and to help others to acquire skills.

Mr Salifu commended WVI for its numerous interventions in the Bongo District in the fields of education, Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation, Skills Training and youth development.

Reverend Dr. T. B. Dankwa, chairman of the WVI Advisory Council who led a team of Council members to visit and familiarise with the projects undertaken by the organisation in the Bongo District. Rev. Dr. Dankwa commended the staff of WVI in Bongo District for their commitment to work and lauded their collaboration with the District Assembly, Decentralised Departments, Local Council of Churches and the Communities.

Mr. Lawrence Lerewanu of WVI, Bongo, said the Youth Skills training Programme (YSTP) under which the beneficiaries were trained started in the year 2000 and had so far spent 70.6 million cedis on training and 75.5 million cedis on equipment.

He said the programme usually sent the selected youth to various Vocational Institutions of their choice or master craftsmen to get training.

Last year, 23 youth passed out and were given equipment worth 34 million cedis to start work on their own.

Mr. Lerewanu, however, said that a few from last year's group who received equipment to start work had left and could not be traced. He also complained of some of the girls getting pregnant during the training period and being compelled to abandon training.