More than 30 residents of Doryumu in the Shai Osudoku District have graduated from a vocational skills training programme aimed at reducing youth unemployment and addressing growing social challenges in the area.
The beneficiaries completed intensive training in soap and detergent production at the Skills and Enterprise Development Centre, a facility established through a partnership between Rotary International, Quantum Ideas Ghana and the Bay City Club of Michigan, USA.
The graduation ceremony marked the successful completion of the centre’s maiden training programme and highlighted ongoing efforts by traditional leaders and development partners to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for young people.
In an inspiring display of lifelong learning, a 73-year-old resident and members of his family were among the graduates who received certificates after successfully completing the programme.
Community leaders described the achievement as a major step toward tackling social problems such as unemployment, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and other forms of youth vulnerability that have become concerns within Doryumu and surrounding communities.
Addressing the ceremony, the Djaase of Gbetesie, Nene Djaase Teye Djaba, underscored the importance of skills development in transforming the lives of young people and changing negative perceptions associated with some communities in the area.
He said traditional authorities remain committed to partnering with organizations that provide practical opportunities for economic empowerment and self-employment.
According to him, entrepreneurship and vocational training offer a viable pathway for reducing dependency and helping young people become productive members of society.
The Overlord of Hiowe Gblaka, Nene Amponsah Afedi, also reaffirmed the commitment of chiefs and elders to promoting responsible behaviour among the youth while supporting initiatives that create jobs and improve livelihoods.
He noted that community development requires collective action and pledged the continued support of traditional authorities for programmes that empower residents and strengthen social cohesion.
Executive Lead of Quantum Ideas Ghana, Anne Ethel Kwamlaga, who serves as the implementing partner for the Rotary International Global Grant Project in Doryumu, described the graduation as a significant milestone in the project’s implementation.
She said the successful completion of the training by more than 30 beneficiaries demonstrates the project’s potential to improve livelihoods through practical skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development.
“The graduation of this first cohort demonstrates that the project is making a tangible difference in people’s lives. Participants have acquired practical skills that can be converted into viable businesses and sustainable sources of income,” she stated.
Ms. Kwamlaga said the participation of the elderly graduate alongside members of his family reflected the community’s confidence in the programme and the growing interest in entrepreneurship across different age groups.
She commended the dedication of the trainees, traditional leaders and community members for embracing the initiative and contributing to its success.
She further assured stakeholders that Quantum Ideas Ghana and its partners would continue to expand opportunities under the project to enable more residents to benefit from skills development and enterprise support.
Beyond the vocational training component, the programme also featured a menstrual hygiene awareness campaign aimed at promoting menstrual health education and eliminating stigma associated with menstruation.
The sensitisation sessions engaged residents, trainees and community leaders on the importance of supporting adolescent girls and women while encouraging open discussions on menstrual health and hygiene.
Development partners said the inclusion of menstrual health education reflects the project’s broader objective of promoting inclusive community development and improving the well-being of vulnerable groups.
Graduates were presented with certificates and encouraged to apply the knowledge acquired to establish small-scale enterprises capable of generating income and creating employment opportunities for others.
The Skills and Enterprise Development Centre forms part of a four-year Rotary International Global Grant intervention designed to strengthen entrepreneurship, enhance economic resilience and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for residents of Doryumu and neighbouring communities.
For many participants and residents, the graduation represented more than the completion of a training programme; it symbolised renewed hope, economic empowerment and a brighter future for the youth of Doryumu.
By Samuel Asamoah
