New ‘Youth Empowerment Project’ initiative set to offer 965 spots in technical and vocational skills training

A training programme designed to empower young people with technical and vocational skills has been launched in The Gambia. Nine hundred and sixty-five youths from across from the country will benefit from a Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) initiative with funding from the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, the project has identified eight local organisations through a competitive bidding process to offer learning and skill development opportunities to young people in The Gambia, at no cost to them.   

The programme will start this year in October, but the deadline for application is 14 September. The organisations involved and the types of training to be provided are as follows:

Sterling Consortium – A local consulting and skills training firm with campuses in Central River Region – a major source of youth migrants to Europe, and Busumbala, which is located in the biggest administrative region in The Gambia. They will provide basic and advanced training in CCTV and solar installations, as well as vehicle diagnostic techniques and repairs.

Insight Training Centre – Headquartered in the most populous regional administration of the country – Kanifing Municipality, the centre is billed to offer training in solar and electrical installation, plumbing, construction, architectural technical drawing and tailoring. The primary target groups are returnees and youth from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Five Star Security – A private security guard company contracted to offer courses in basic security guard services for private security personnel, fire safety and emergency evacuation, illicit drugs and anti-terrorism security, customer care and public relations, among others. This component is for young people interested in the service industry.

YMCA The Gambia – The YMCA is expected to offer training programmes in secretarial studies and entrepreneurship: graphic designing and desktop publishing, marketing and design, financial literacy and business entrepreneurship. They are looking for secondary school leavers (at least Grade 9), who are residents of North Bank and West Coast Region.

Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI) – it is the premier TVET centre in the country with branches in Basse, Upper River Region, and Mansakonko, Lower River Region. It would offer training in refrigeration and air conditioning repairs, tiling, welding and fabrication, carpentry and joinery, electrical installation, and entrepreneurship. This programme is for residents of Mansakonko and Basse areas who have completed basic education.

Gambia Telecommunication and Management Institute (GTMI) – An agency of the national Telecom giant, it will provide training at certificate and diploma levels in computer studies: mobile phone and laptop repairs, and satellite receiver installation and configuration. Candidates must come from Upper River Region and Central River Region – the biggest producers of migrants in The Gambia. It is designed for URR and CRR natives in possession of Grade 9 & 12 certificates.

Golden Hands Academy – Targeting school leavers, returnees and drop-outs, the institute offers training courses in beauty therapy and cosmetology, hairdressing,  massage, pedicure and manicure, and information technology.

Fajara Skills Development Centre – Located in the heart of urban Gambia, they will train candidates in sewing and fashion design, cookery and nutrition, hairdressing, and beauty therapy.

For a country that is still reeling from decades of economic stagnation, such a venture will go a long way in giving a decent lifeline to many young people.

For more details, contact the Youth Empowerment Project: Phone number +2204497942/ Email: yep@intracen.org    

TMP – 11/09/2018

Photo credit: GTTI . Photo caption: GTTI students in action at the institute’s work station