Andreas Manna Foundation holds 2015 graduation ceremony

Mpatado (W/R) May 23, GNA - Mr Erasmus Asiedu, an Assistant Director at the Western Regional Office of the Department of Social Welfare, over the weekend advised young girls to take advantage of the numerous vocational training programmes in the country to acquire employable skills.

He said the acquisition of employable skills by young girls would enable them to earn a decent living and overcome the temptation of engaging in immoral activities.

Mr Asiedu was speaking at the 2015 graduation ceremony of the Andreas Manna Foundation (AMFO) at Mpatado near Takoradi.

Some 10 students, who completed a two year intensive training in hairdressing and dressmaking at the foundation, were presented with National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and AMFO certificates at the ceremony.

Mr. Asiedu expressed regrets that some girls have taken to immoral activities to make a living and said it is not too late for such girls to change their minds and acquire employable skills.

He said the doors of the Department of Social Welfare are opened to girls, who want to acquire vocational skills but do not know who to turn to.

Mr Samuel Ntumy, the Director of the AMFO, said the mission of the foundation is to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged and less privileged children by 'Helping them through processes that would enhance their self-reliance and long term sustainable development'.

He said other aims and objectives of the foundation were to provide vocational and employable skills to disadvantaged, less privileged and vulnerable children, to help poor and needy children to obtain basic education and health care, to provide shelter to homeless children in crisis situations and to provide guidance and counseling services to the youth.

Mr Ntumy said the graduates are the first batch of trainees to be trained by the foundation, adding that, the children were trained by the Opportunities Industrialization Centre (OIC) and at private hairdressing salons and fashion shops at Anaji.

He said, 'It remained our dream to set up a training centre at the Andreas Manna Foundation to provide girls within the surrounding communities with vocational skills'.

Mr Ntumy said the foundation obtains financial support from its sister organization, Andreas Manna Foundation in Holland, and to sustain the project in Ghana, the foundation has started sachet water production, which is to be expanded.

Madam Joyce Amamoo, the Western Regional President of the Hairdressers and Beauticians Association, who presided, said the association was assisting in the training of young girls and boys.

GNA