By Olimatou Coker
The Youth Empowerment Project has announced that it will be offering technical and vocational skills training opportunities to around 965 young Gambians.
It said this will be done through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
Yep is an EU-funded programme through its emergency Trust Fund for Africa. It is being implemented in The Gambia by the International Trade Centre, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment and the Ministry of Youths and Sport.
The project is here to boost job creation and support long-term economic sustainability for The Gambia, particularly among backway-stricken young people.
A communication consultant at Yep said: “Technical and vocational training opportunities are provided under the pilot phase of skills for youth employment fund launched by Yep. Through a competitive tender process, eight TVET institutions namely Sterling Consortium, Insight Training Centre, YMCA, Gambia Technical Training Institute, Five Star Security, Gambia Telecommunications and Multimedia Institute (GTMI, Basse campus), Fajara Skills Development Centre, and Golden Hands Academy, were selected.”
He said the TVET programme was widely recognised to be a success in creating employment for young people in countries with large informal sectors and micro businesses.
He also said: “Training opportunities will be available in a number of skill development areas such as engineering, construction, graphic design, ICTs, security services, hairdressing, textile and entrepreneurship. The geographic scope in the pilot phase include Kanifing, Brikama, Kerewan, Mansakonko, Basse and Bansang.”
One objective of the training programme seeks to meet an identified skill shortage and lead to jobs creation or self-employment.
