AUSAID renews sponsorship to Vocational Training Centre
The Australian International Development Agency (AUSAID) has agreed to renew its sponsorship of the International Needs Vocational Training Centre (INVTC) at Adidome to enable it to train more deprived women.
"AUSAID has certified the programme at the centre as very excellent and decided to continue with the package", Ms Patience Voimawor, Executive Co-coordinator of the project said.
She was addressing the passing out of 116 former trokosi women, their children and other deprived women at Adidome last Friday.
The AUSAID's 10 years of support to the centre was expected to end this year.
Ms Vormawor did not say how long the extended sponsorship would last.
She said the beneficiaries were trained to make soap, pomade, batik tie and dye and confectionaries, while 40 others were undergoing a two-year training programme in sewing and hairdressing.
They also received counseling in gender related violence, sexually transmitted diseases, drug abuse and family planning.
The trainees were accommodated and fed free of charge and given resettlement packages to assist them to set up their own business.
Ms Leticia Kalitsi, Counsellor at the centre advised beneficiaries to see the training as a process of transforming their lives and apply their skills to improve on their livelihood.