By J. K Nabary, GNA
Awutu Bawjiase (C/R), Jan 8, GNA – Twenty-three apprentices who successfully completed a three-year programme of study in fashion and designing have graduated from the I-Smile Fashion and Design Centre, at Awutu Bawjiase in the Central Region.
The graduation, the ninth of the centre was under the theme: “Empowering Ghanaian Youth through Creative Fashion Skills.”
The ceremony was was attended by guests including Madam Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, Awutu Senya East Member of Parliament (MP); Nai Kwaku Osardu Otabil III Chief of Awutu Bawjiase; Nai Kwame Kurabi IV, Chief of Awutu Opeikuma; and Mr Eghan Kalala Nyamekye, the Awutu-Senya District Chief Executive (DCE).
The graduates, including five males, were taken through disciplines including fashion and design, customer service and care, book-keeping, customer rights, environmental cleanliness and personal hygiene during the period of their studies.
I-Smile Fashion and Design Centre is a community help project and a non-government traning established in 2012 to support the youth with employable skills.
Madam Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Former MP for Awutu-Senya-West Constituency and Patron of the centre, presented certificates, testimonials and sewing machines to the graduates.
She congratulated them for their hardwork and determination throughout their training.
Madam Tetteh said that the pivotal milestone the graduates had made not only for themselves, but also for their parents, guardians and communities at large.
Madam Tetteh, who is a former Minister of Trade and Industry, and Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, former Director General of the UN office in Nairobi, was hopeful the training had expanded their knowledge and reshaped their outlook of life.
She admonished the graduates, to at least sponsor one person to also learn a vocation, as a means of giving back to the society.
“I challenge you to use the experiences you have gained, as a launch pad for your future success, propelling you to even greater heights as you support others,” she stated.
“We are confident that the skills and knowledge you have received will be of immense benefit to you and to our beloved Ghana,” she added.
Mr Ismailia Abdulai Andoh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the centre, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), thanked Madam Tetteh for the continual supply of sewing machines to the learners as start-up kits.
According to him, the programme was designed to support vulnerable youth in the society with vocational and entrepreneurship skills to enable them to earn a living, rather than migrating to urban centres to seek for white colour jobs which were not there.
He said the centre commenced with six people and had since trained more than150 youth with not less than100 others still undergoing training.
He reaffirmed the centre’s vision of becoming an internationally acclaimed for skills training centre for the youth to become self-sufficient in life.
“We are appealing for more support from corporate bodies, NGOs as well as the Government to expand the centre to enrol more youths.
“ …A hostel under construction to house the trainees, needs to be completed,” he added.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Lydia Kukua Asamoah