They received certificates in glass fabrication, fashion design, make-up artistry and bridal dressing, news reporting, video shooting and editing.

The free vocational skills training programme was put together by Laabarani Saakiya Charity Foundation, a Non-governmental Organisation, based in Kasoa and the Obaatanpa Radio Station in Kasoa on the theme, ‘Creating a positive financial well-being.’

The Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East and Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson, donated 38 sewing machines, 30 hair driers as part of her contribution to equip graduands to start their own business.
    

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Executive Officer of Laabarain Saakiya Charity Foundation, Alhaji Abubakari Mohammed, said the foundation was born out of ‘Laabarain Saakiya,’ a Hausa programme, which literally means “News of Change” that he hosts on the Obaatanpa Radio Station every Fridays to empower the youth and induce social change.

He emphasized that the vocational training was intended “to give hope to the youth to become self-employed and be their own bosses without depending on anyone,” noting that Awutu Senya East Municipality with Kasoa as the capital had a fast growing population with burgeoning youth.

He said most of the youth in the area lack vocational skills and the area had been tagged as violent and crime-prone area.

“The foundation seeks to hone the skills of the youth, to create jobs for them and generate income to improve their well-being,” he said, adding that vocational training played a crucial role in equipping individuals, especially the youth with practical, and job-ready skills that would take them away from all social vices and crime.

The Awutu Senya East Municipal Director of Education, Ms Faustina Alimatu Braimah, praised the efforts of the two organisations to equip the youth with employable skills to be on their own.

Ms Braimah commended the graduands for acquiring the skills and knowledge to pursue their own trade, saying that, “you need additional skills apart from the certificate you obtained in school to equip yourselves to be self-employed.”

As they step out into the new vocation, Ms Braimah urged them to be ethical in the approach to their business, be polite and courteous to the people they interact in order to build strong relationship with their clients.

The management foundation honoured the Radio Station, and other individuals for their contribution to the work of the foundation.