730 beneficiaries graduate under YESDEC

Some beneficiaries of YESDEC undergoing training in Specialty and Beauty Care module under the YESDEC program

The program has a mandate to train and set up four thousand beneficiaries by the end of December 2012.

Available information to The Chronicle indicates that over two thousand beneficiaries are currently under training in various modules of the program, and are expected to graduate in June this year, to enable the center recruit new apprentices to cover the deficit.

YESDEC is a Private Sector initiative which aims at partnering with the Public Sector to provide solution to the unemployment situation in the country. The programme is in collaboration with the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).

It was introduced in the Volta Region with the aim of helping the youth between the ages of 18 to 45, who have acquired skills but lack equipment to set up, to successfully manage their own business.

The beneficiaries are taken through trade modules such as  Specialty Beauty care, Fashion & Garment design, Soap making, Grasscutter Farming and Packaging, Farming and Fish Farming, Snail Rearing,  Fish Processing, Food And Catering, Welding, Batik, Tie And Dye, Barbering, Mobile Phone & Computer Repairs, Construction & Block Making, Dry Seasoning Farming.

They are also taken through a ten working days hands on practical training, detailed basic enterprise development training in  Book Keeping, Marketing Skills, Financial Management and Customer Services.

Beneficiaries are then given set up equipment after successfully passing out from training in their selected trade.

They are then given set up equipment after successfully passing out from training in their selected trade and repay the cost of the equipment over a specific period of time.

According to managers of the program, the Volta Region has trained and graduated 300 beneficiaries in Specialty Beauty care, 200 beneficiaries in Fashion & Garment design, 130 beneficiaries in liquid soap making and 100 beneficiaries in Barbering services

'The Volta Regional programme has so far received a good response from the general public. It is therefore the hope of YESDEC Volta Region and our partners that, by the end of December 2012, our mandate to train and set up Four Thousand beneficiaries will be achieved by creating more awareness on the programme in the various towns and communities, by involving the Information Service Department, the Chiefs and Elders, Assembly Members as well as the beneficiaries who have already undergone the training and seen the realities of the programme,' noted the National Coordinator of the program, Mavis Yamoah.