By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Over two hundred adolescent girls in Giehun Luawa and Burma in Kenema district have acquired various vocational skills training ranging from tailoring, hairdressing, crafting to embroidery, courtesy of a non-governmental organization called Future Focus Foundation Sierra Leone with support from Tools for Self Reliance based in the United Kingdom.
In her statement, the visiting African Programme Manager and Fundraising Staff, Tools for Self Reliance, Ash Phillips, said they were impressed with the trainees, especially the products made by them, adding that they had given them tips on how to maintain some of the materials such as sewing machines.
The organization, Tools for Self Reliance, believes that everybody should have an opportunity to become self-reliant, and it is the reason they encouraged their partners and provided a vocational training on these areas, she said, assuring that the organization will encourage their partners to make business and life-changing skills on education around HIV and AIDS, child marriage, and other interventions.
The National Team Leader for Future Focus Foundation, Sylvester Sidie Mohamed Kallon, emphasized that the essence of the training is to build the capacity of girls so that they would not rely on men for their survival but learn a trade and be able to take care of themselves and their children. He said the visit by key stakeholders of the project was in line with their premium on transparency and accountability, which would help in identifying challenges and correcting lapses.
Kallon also mentioned the Girls Alert Club in the community that provides advocacy on teenage pregnancy and report to them the abuses that happen to girls, with the group now collaborating with the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone Police in Kailahun. He said they are concerned over early forceful marriage, teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and that the peer lead advocacy group will be of help in those areas.
On behalf of the Giehun community, Chief Alpha Lamin commended the foundation for the skills training support given to girls in their community that has helped in keeping them engaged.
He said before the project, many young girls were faced with challenges in terms of livelihood support and caring for their babies and that the project has helped them now make items which they can sell to earn money to support their family.
One of the girls, Mamie Lamin, reacting upon completing her course in tailoring, said she has now become the bread winner of her family, and encouraged the next crop of trainees to take the exercise seriously.
The foundation which has various centres in the district focuses on empowering adolescent girls who have dropped out of school as a result of early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and other societal problems.
The foundation has completed a one year project in skills development and child care in Kenema and Kailahun districts, according to officials.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (28/10/22)
