The Catholic Relief Services CRS has past-out two hundred and fifty youth beneficiaries in 14 technical and vocational skills training models in northern region. The training under the Youth Lead Initiatives for Employment youth Life 2.0 project partnered local training institutions in the region to help train the beneficiaries to be self-employed in their communities.
CRS in its Youth Life 2.0 project, since 2018, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Tamale and YEFL Ghana have implemented the YOUTH LIFE 2.0 project which seeks to provide over 500 vulnerable youth with apprenticeship training in market-driven technical skills accompanying with professional development skills, while linking them to the private sector, mentorship and business support services.
The beneficiaries were trained within six months period in areas such as; Events decoration and flower arrangement, beads and sandals making, camera techniques and video editing, graphic design, electricals, hair dressing and tile laying.
The rest are soap making, dress making, fabric weaving, P.O.P Works and design, 3D painting, and software design. Speaking at the ceremony, CRS Country representative Daniel Mumuni urged beneficiaries to use the knowledge acquired to the benefit of themselves and society.
Mr Dan Mumuni said the beneficiaries have written and past the national vocational training institute’s proficiency examination and those with the electrical installation have also been access towards receiving their license by the energy commission of Ghana, making them ready for the market.
Pishigu lana Alhassan Andani who was the guest speaker of the ceremony advised parents to invest in skills training of their children. This he says will go a long to improve the country’s economy. NCCE Director, Alhaji Razak Saani advising the youth at the ceremony laments the indiscipline among the youth and urged them to live their lives worth emulating.
Northern Regional Minister Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu while commending CRS for the initiative observed the need to empower the youth with requisite knowledge and skills to help solve the issue of youth unemployment in the country.
Alhaji Saani while commending CRS for the initiative called on other religious bodies to emulate the gesture of CRS. The beneficiaries expressing their excitement to Zaa news commended CRS for the opportunity saying it will go a long way to improve their lives, and as well solve the unemployment situation in the region and country at large. ‘’CRS has come to serve us from the politicians who use us to perpetuate violence.’’
YOUTH LIFE 2.0 PROJECT
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Catholic Relief Services in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Tamale, and YEFL Ghana implemented a 16-month youth led initiatives for empowerment YOUTH LIFE2.0 Project. Youth Life 2.0 project sought to create and facilitate an enabling environment, technical know-how and professional development skills to connect vulnerable youth in Tamale, Ghana to secure employment and a reliable income by providing technical vocational skills training to 250 youth with the aim of supporting them to successfully obtain formal employment through the private sector or launched their own businesses. Youth Life 2.0 also provided an additional 270 youth with formal professional development training to accompany their external apprenticeship training. The Youth Life 2.0 project aims to ensure that vulnerable, out-of-school urban and peri-urban youth share in opportunity for social development and economic growth.
By Lilian D. Walter/zaanews/Ghana