One Hundred And Fifty Youth Graduate Under The Sinapi Aba’s Youth Apprenticeship Program In Accra
One Hundred and Fifty youth in the Greater Accra Region have completed apprenticeship in various forms of vocations under the Sinapi Aba Youth Apprenticeship Program supported by Opportunity International Deutschland. The beneficiaries of the program have had the opportunity to train and gain hands-on skills in the last 3-years in areas of vocation such as hairdressing, dress-making/tailoring, auto-electrical, auto-mechanic, tile laying, catering, aluminum fabrication, and welding. A graduation ceremony has been held to commemorate the successful completion of the program.
The Youth Apprenticeship Program is run in selected regions of Ghana to give vulnerable youth between the ages of 15-23 the opportunity to gain employable and income-generating skills to make them economically empowered and thus positive contributors to society. The 3-year Youth Apprentice Program, since its inception in 2003 to date has been rolled out in Kumasi, Accra, Berekum, Dorma Ahenkro, Cape Coast, Swedru, Mankessim among others, and has benefitted over four thousand (4000) youth passing out successfully. As part of the program, beneficiaries are also required to sit for a formal exam, conducted by a Government agency NVTI (National Vocational Technical Institute) after which they receive a Proficiency level 1 Certificate from (NVTI) at the end of the program.
The graduation ceremony held on the 12th November 2021, featured dignitaries such as Nii Atofo II, the chief of Amansaman Traditional Council, a representative of Member of Parliament, and MCE for Amansaman Constitution, Regional head of Business Advisory Centre- Anthea Ohene, NVTI Regional Head-Mr. Stephen Asumang, A partner from Opportunity International Dutch-Alina Hoferichter, The Chief Program Officer- Joyce Owusu-Dabo, and many others.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Nii Atofo II, the Amansam chief applauded graduates for successfully passing through the three-year program. He further commended Sinapi Aba for providing such a great opportunity for youth in Greater Accra to better their lives and in effect contribute their quota to community development.
The Chief Program Officer of Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans, Joyce Owusu-Dabo in her speech, encouraged the successful graduates to make a mark in their workplace. She emphasized the need for value addition to their business which is an important factor that will make them stand tall and unique among their competitors. “Let the finishing of your work be different so that your clients will have value for their money and would want to always come back,” she urged. She again encouraged the graduates to use their knowledge and skills for the benefit of others as a Cooperate Social Responsibility to their community and Ghana at large.
The Project Manager, Margaret Asare Owusu gave the assurance that Sinapi Aba will continue to commit great zeal and resources towards producing well-trained youth in various craftsmanship to partake in economic development and therefore appealed to parents to support their wards anytime they show the interest in learning a trade. She looks forward to extending the program to other project areas in Ghana where more vulnerable lives will be touched and transformed.
All successful graduates were awarded certificates by the National Vocation Technical Institute. The outstanding graduands received other relevant logistics in their line of business in addition to their certificates
