The Design & Technology Institute (DTI) and the Mastercard Foundation’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Livelihoods for Sustainable Jobs programme has made a positive impact on over 1000 young people across Ghana.
The three-year Transforming Youth TVET Livelihoods for Sustainable Jobs programme, which ran from June 2020 to May 2023, was designed to deliver precision fabrication training and work readiness skills to 1000 talented youth at the highest global standards.
It aimed to increase access to quality employment-oriented skills training for women, and low-income and vulnerable groups, and roll out precision quality training for master craftsmen, SMEs, corporates, and technical universities nationwide.
The programme also aimed to collaborate with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) to shape national TVET policy, promote standards, implement an effective regulatory and certification regime, and design and test innovative prototypes for industrial products and components demanded by local supply chains.
Constance Swaniker, Founder and President of DTI, indicated that DTI sought to disrupt the mainstream model of technical and vocational education and training in Ghana by changing the low perception young people have of TVET careers in Ghana and Africa.
She noted, “It’s very interesting to be able to offer this exclusive opportunity to young people from all over Ghana…We are excited about the partnership and where it is going.”
Prof Alexander Nii Oto Dodoo, Director General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), underscored that the country’s biggest challenge was youth unemployment.
“As a country, our biggest challenge is youth unemployment. And why are the youth unemployed? Ghana is training about 350,000 graduates every year coming into the job market for non-existing jobs. A lot of them have paper qualifications without skills to match them. By skilling them and helping them create their own jobs we are helping them solve a big problem,” he added.
Prof Dodoo opined that the collaboration, with its focus on young people, already addresses a key part of Ghana’s challenge.
Haki Asah, a participant of the programme who had benefitted greatly from the programme and had developed a groundnut separator through the knowledge garnered, stated, “I came to Wa because there is a lack of job opportunities or lack of training in my village, Kulpong.”
“Having some ideas but don’t have the mentorship, training and financial support to help pursue our dreams. So immediately I heard about DTI and Mastercard Foundation coming together to help young people, I said this is an opportunity I have to grab and I have to make it a good one.”
Another participant, Matilda Adu Adjei, who has also improved her skills as a welder, stated, “My brother told me about DTI, he gave me the details and I applied. I have a degree in Land Economy from the KNUST. My major concern was after school, what was I going to do? When it comes to things you have to do with your hands that I enjoy the most, that’s how I went to DTI without having any second thoughts.”
Ishmael Lamptey also shared, “I personally am a very big fan of Do IT Yourself (DIY). I wanted to gain some skills, especially in the field of working with metals, so when I heard about the opportunity I decided to enrol.”
He said that his work as a construction manager had greatly improved due to the programme.
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