The Sunyani Youth Development Association (SYDA) in its quest to give the unemployed youth source of livelihood has launched its Integrated Sewing Project.
The SYDA Integrated Sewing Project is designed to provide the youth with employable skills that have a value chain.
The project, with funding support from the office of the Australian High Commission in Ghana, is aimed at providing training in dressmaking, bead weaving, smock weaving, carpentry, mechanics, hairdressing and pastry making among others.
The SYDA Integrated Project also includes the provision of Non-Formal Education to illiterates.
The President of SYDA, Atta Akoto Snr said, the Association was formed to enhance development in the community by equipping the youth with the requisite technical and vocational skills.
He explained that SYDA is poised to complement the SDG agenda goals. “As we are aware, our President Nana Akufo-Addo is a Co-Chair of the Eminent Group of Sustainable Development Goal Advocates, we are poised in our small corner to work toward the attainment of the SDGs.”
Nana Akua Pomaa, a volunteer for the Project explains that the event is aimed at encouraging the public to join the centre and benefit from its services.
“The launching of the project is about sewing with other stuff, first when you sew you sew a shirt it is only a shirt but today when you come to SYDA to sew we make beads, necklaces, and earrings. So, before you leave SYDA you go with skills that will empower you to sew then after that you can do a necklace to match it. The term Integrated Sewing means sewing with other stuff like necklaces. We have been going online telling the youth to come here to learn something because it is free, if they are serious about it you can make ends meet from it. So I am encouraging the youth to come to Sunyani Youth Development Association and we would make sure they would not go the same as they came.”
The Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah speaking at the programme said Government is striving to reduce unemployment in the country through the training of the Youth in artisanship. This according to him is to help curb irregular migration which is rife in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions.
He said the Government is consequently partnering the German Government to establish a reintegration and capacity-building centre to check the menace of irregular migration.
Ignatius Baffour Awuah said technology is changing and rendering a lot of jobs irrelevant. He, therefore, stressed the need for contemporary youth to equip themselves with artisanal skills in order to stay relevant. He explains that TVET education is a priority for the Government.
The event was graced by the Bono Regional Director of the National Youth Authority, Fati Bamba, the Sunyani Krontihene, Nana Bofotia Boaponsem and other Sub-Chiefs as well as members of the public.
Source: Michael Sarpong Mfum | citinewsroom.com | Ghana
Tags: Employment and Labour RelationsGhana NewsSunyani Youth Development Association
