By Jesse Ampah Owusu
Akwamufie (E/R), Dec. 26, GNA – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has donated 25 mattresses and 10 industrial sewing machines to Nana Afrakoma Training Centre at Akwamufie, Eastern Region, to aid teaching and learning.
The donation was in response to a request made by Nana Afrakoma II, Queenmother of Akwamu Traditional Area, when the UNFPA called on her last year 2021. The Fund’s delegation had asked her what they could do to support the Centre.
The Queenmother requested mattresses for the learners’ residence and sewing machines to aid teaching in dress making.
The training centre was established by the Queenmother to offer hands-on training to out-of-school girls and teenage mothers in the Akwamu Traditional Area.
The Centre has 20 young women and girls being trained in beads making, dress making, hair dressing and beautification
Dr David Wilfred Ochan, UNFPA Representative in Ghana, said they decided to support the Centre because it aligned with their vision to empower young women and girls.
“I want to use this occasion to also appreciate you in a very special way for setting up the Centre to give adolescent mothers a second chance by giving them life planning skills and empower them to stand on their own.”
“The UNFPA will continue to work with girls and the Centre to provide these girls with information and services on adolescent reproductive health and rights,” he added.
Dr Ochan said using culture and tradition, Queen mothers were instrumental in conveying and transferring knowledge on issues of reproductive health such as adolescent pregnancy and menstrual health.
Madam Selali Mary Helego, Administrator of Training Centre, said the Centre had been in operation for a year and nine months and was fully funded by the Queenmother.
She stressed that the training was free for the ladies, adding that, they were often supported with incentives to enable them stay in the programme.
Madam Helego said the learners would be graduating in February 2023 after writing their National Vocational Training Institute examinations.
She said they would be providing them with seed capital and tools to enable them to start something on their own after graduation.
Ms Stella Agyei, an out-of-school young mother, said the training had helped her acquire the skills with which she could pursue to sustain herself and her family.
She said she was hoping other out-of-school young ladies would get the opportunity to enroll on such programmes to enhance themselves and become better.
GNA