2012 Vocational Training Students' Graduation Ceremony

Saturday April 28, 2012 was a momentous occasion that brought together of Youth Alive’s (YA) graduating apprentices, their trainers and sponsors.

Jubilee Park, Bolga

All corners of the community gathered to acknowledge, celebrate and witness the launch of YA’s freshest batch of apprentice graduates at Jubilee Park in Bolgatanga (Bolga). 45 students passed through the organization’s ambitious program to become fully certified tradespeople trained in a variety of skills including hairdressing, dressmaking, carpentry, masonry and auto machinery. 

Family & friends

The graduates, hailing from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, were joined by proud family and friends, instructors, members of the YA community and a host of invited guests who happily wished them the best at this significant turning point in their lives.

Chairperson for the occasion, Betty Ayagiba and the Bolga Municipal Chief Executive who represented the Deputy Upper Regional Minister shared words of encouragement and wisdom with the young entrepreneurs. Ms. Ayagiba, founder of the Widows & Orphans Movement, commended the strength of the YA program in preparing young adults to bring sweeping change to Northern Ghana and improve the stability of its communities. The Municipal Chief Executive stressed the importance of staying on the right path and serving as leaders to ensure the health and sustainable growth of Northern Ghana.

Special guests including Barclays Bank reps, Madame Betty Ayahiba & Bolga's Municipal Chief Executive

YA Director Agnes Chiravira

 YA Director Agnes Chiravira highlighted the organization’s many initiatives that strive to create opportunities for youth to reach their goals, succeed and become independent. She also stressed the impact of giving back to the community and encouraged all beneficiaries to, “Stretch out [their] hands and touch other lives.”   

Barclays Bank representatives

The day would not have even been possible without the support and contribution of organizational sponsors Tools for Self Reliance and Barclays Bank. Both organizations’ assistance greatly fostered the development and success of YA’s vocational training program by providing necessary tools and training equipment. Barclays Bank, which has donated over Ghȼ 100, 000 to the program, was wholly represented by managers from across Ghana who were able to witness the result of the fruitful  partnership. 

Community Relations Manager, Mr. Nana Benneh urged the students not to take the opportunity given them for granted. He announced the introduction of Barclays Bank facilitation programs to further enhance the quality of support of the bank to YA beneficiaries in general. The programs include financial skills training and mentoring projects to support new graduates in establishing their independent businesses. The declaration was recognized as evidence of Barclays Bank going “Beyond corporate financial support to forming relationships with beneficiaries,” explained YA Director Chiravira.

"We look forward to your success."
Mr. Nana Benneh, Barclays Bank Community Relations Manger

As proud and optimistic as all attendees were, the graduates were equally thankful and determined to make the most of their chance to establish themselves in their various fields. Each beneficiary was given  an assortment of materials relevant to their trade to jumpstart their private businesses. Additionally, they would each receive16 pieces of aluminium roofing sheets to aid the development of a shop structure. The female graduates would further receive five bags of cement each. The students were eager to express their gratitude through a variety of performance pieces including an original song, “Youth Alive”, poetry readings and a collective drama skit that educated the public on the need for unity and tolerance as the nation prepares to go to the polls for the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in December.

Performance of original song, "Youth Alive"

Cultural performance

.

Group dancing

Following the distribution of certificates, the graduates posed for pictures with the donated materials they would use to begin new enterprises

Proud graduate group shot

The day was a massive success thanks to the efforts of all those involved in making YA’s vocational training program accessible to the marginalized youth in our community. The new graduates will not soon forget the generosity of their program organizers, trainers and sponsors who have provided an incomparable alternative to their difficult circumstances of the past. Our new graduates are filled with the desire to do better; for themselves, their families and the community. They are living and breathing examples to us all of the promise for a bright and prosperous Ghana.

Certificate distribution

YA continues to support a multitude of vulnerable youth across Northern Ghana in pursuing careers as skilled tradespeople. You can help youngsters break through the cycle of poverty; make their dreams a reality and give through our website.

Photos courtesy of Alexander Ogle.

Wa, Update

Fresh off of the Easter break and activity in the Upper West region has been steadily buzzing as we've hit the middle of the biometric voter registration period (three more weeks to go!). Our YA Program Manager (PM) in Wa, Mr. Peter Tanga, has been laying the groundwork in these early stages of the organizational campaign to engage street youth in participating peacefully in Ghana's 2012 election.

Just before the holiday the Upper West office organized a one hour, live radio discussion program for the street youth leaders to sensitize and encourage their colleagues to participate in the ongoing biometric registration and abstain from violent acts. Panelists included three street youth leaders and a representative from the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).

These programs have been having the desired effect as local visits by the YA Director and Ag. PM to four registration centers revealed no record of incidences or disruptive behaviour by street youth. According to the registration officials the youth are turning out in their numbers to register.

This news is certainly a credit to the street youth leaders whom the YA team has also been regularly monitoring to assess progress, determine challenges and recognize opportunities of the campaign. The visits have revealed that as of now all 20 leaders are fully registered and continue to succeed in getting many of their colleagues to follow suit. "The leaders have (even) gone beyond sensitizing their colleagues to their communities," reflects YA PM Peter Tanga.

In the coming weeks YA will continue to monitor activities not only at the registration centers but within the community and amongst the street youth and their leaders to ensure maximum efficacy and prospective voter turnout. The next step in the education campaign is to support the leaders in organizing an information forum at the bus terminal (where most of the street youth of voting age work) to increase communication efforts linked to their peaceful and active participation.

Keep it up team! We can't wait to follow-up with more of your progress in the region :)