40 youth from the Talensi District of the Upper East Region which serves as host to Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited have graduated from a skill training program initiated by the mining company to build the capacity of some youth in their operational area.
As part of the Youth Capacity Building Training Program, 16 girls underwent two months of training in bricklaying, electrical installation, tiling, and carpentry at the Bolgatanga Technical Institute in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region.
The other 24 who are males underwent their training at the Tahimayili Vocational/ Technical Institute in Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region.
The 40 who benefited from the 345,000 cedis training program which covers tuition, boarding and lodging, transportation, training gear, start-up tools, and materials come from the following communities Buing, Accra site, Digaare, Bapeela, Tolla Datoko, Sheaga, Buugu and Sawaliga of the Talensi District.
Following their graduation, the beneficiaries will embark on an industrial attachment which will see them receive an amount of 500 cedis every month for the attachment period to cover the cost of transportation.
With the rising youth unemployment, the training comes as a major relief for the young men and women who hitherto had no source of income.
Addressing the graduands, the Community and Social Responsibility Manager of Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited, Kofi Adusei said the initiative forms part of the mining company’s overarching theme of “growing together with our communities” hence the partnership with Alinea Foundation (WEE North) to initiate the 8 weeks residential, demand-driven and competency-based technical skills training program.
He, therefore, urged the graduands to pursue their skill areas to realize the needed benefits.
“16 young women who were trained in bricklaying and tiling, carpentry, and electrical installation will graduate from this institute while 24 young men graduate tomorrow at the Tahimayili Vocational/Technical Institute in Tamale.
Training in these skill areas requires a concerted and coordinated effort of all stakeholders including, the tutors, parents or guardians, community leaders, and the trainees to make it a success. I, therefore, congratulate today’s graduands for taking the training seriously and having exhibited a high level of commitment and discipline. You have just completed a critical stage in your life. A milestone we are delighted to recognize, and honor
Your graduation, as hard-won as it surely was, is however a beginning rather than an end. Certainly, this marks the beginning of a career for many of you, but it is also a marker in what will be a life-long pursuit of learning, of broadening your knowledge, and of expanding your life experience,” he said.
Participants of the training expressed excitement for the opportunity as they share their desire to establish their respective businesses in the future while commending Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited for the opportunity.
