By Kamal Ahmed/GNA
Somanya (E/R), Sept. 29, GNA – The Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation (HDMF) has graduated 18 women trained in fashion and cosmetology at Somanya in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The graduates, who formed the sixth batch of the Foundation’s Memorial Centre for Ideas and Knowledge, received TVET Proficiency Certificates after completing their respective programmes.
The graduation ceremony brought together traditional leaders, educationists, religious leaders, parents, guardians, instructors and other stakeholders to celebrate the graduates’ achievements.
As part of the graduation packages, 11 fashion graduates received new sewing machines, while seven cosmetology graduates received new hairdryers to help them establish or expand their businesses.
The best cosmetology student received a certificate, two hairdryers and other items, while the best fashion student received two sewing machines, comprising an industrial machine and a manual machine.
The overall best graduating student, Ms. Esther Dede Tetteh, a single mother, received a new hairdryer and a new Singer sewing machine.
Madam Otiko Afisah Djaba, Executive Director of the Foundation and former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said the graduates had shown resilience and determination despite challenges during their training.
She said the Centre was established in 2020 to provide practical livelihood skills to vulnerable girls, women and persons with disabilities and help them create opportunities for themselves.
“Your training and this graduation certificate is just the beginning of a new chapter in your lives,” she said.
Madam Djaba urged the graduates to put their skills into practice, continue learning and consider further training, apprenticeships, attachments or entrepreneurship to improve their livelihoods.
She said the certificates represented not only the completion of their courses, but also their hard work, sacrifices, determination and willingness to build better futures for themselves and their families.
Guest of Honour Professor Eric Nyarko-Sampson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), commended the graduates for acquiring skills that could help address unemployment and promote economic development.
He announced that he would support 10 prospective students to undertake training at the Centre next year by paying half of their fees.
Professor Nyarko-Sampson said the decision followed concerns raised by some graduates about difficulties in paying school fees, transportation costs and feeding expenses during their training.
He said the gesture was also in recognition of the importance his mother placed on education and urged others to support young people to acquire employable skills.
“The issue of how I came by sponsoring 10 people is that when I heard that the best student was speaking that sometimes they don’t have transport money to come to the training school and sometimes food to eat is a problem, I said to myself, how can I help in my own little way?” he said.
He called on individuals and organisations to support the training of more young people, noting that the programme could help reduce poverty and create opportunities for young women, including single mothers.
The Vice-Chancellor said skills training could provide young women with sustainable sources of income and contribute to the growth of the local and national economy.
GNA
Editing by D.I. Laary/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Kamal Ahmed
Reporter’s email: [email protected]