May 14, 2021
By: James Kamara-Manneh
In a bid to empower and motivate the young men and women Life by Design together with its partners has schemed out the way forward to equip them with new skills. Over 8000 youths had been catered for under the newly launched Skills Developments Funds comprises of two major courses- short courses under the skills development scheme, and the Tvets base training that is yet to be launched.
Speaking to the audience at the grand launching in Brookfield’s, Freetown, Joe Abass Bangura, Chief Executive Office of Life by Design narrated his journey in life and were his dreams all stated. He described the program as very important and a journey that started in the 80’s, but was met with stiff resistance and called on all young people to grab the opportunity of a life time.
Mr. Bangura pinned that this program will be educational oriented, a vocation, demand driving, it will create employment for the youths, and will be a platform of creativity.
“The original projection of the Skills development secretariat and the World Bank was like 8000 youths all between the ages of 18-35 years, but it was blown wider to 20,000 young people, adding that in three years youths will benefit from the scheme,” Joe Abass Bangura said.
He expressed profound appreciation to the government of Sierra Leone and the World Bank for awarding such projects to Useful Hand Vocational Institute (Under Life by Design) that will render supervision to the Skill development funds (SDF) and that in three years the importance of the scheme ought to be realizes. Mr. Bangura elucidate that the aim of the program is for young people to become master class entrepreneurs and that is a working progress with eloquent personality that are in charge to see the smooth sail of its unfolding.
On the part of Rokel Bank who is also partners, the Marketing Manager Madam Aminata Jajuah said they have always been in support of young people with entrepreneurs skills. She furthered that tapping into young adults, the bank have a special account that can aid youth for their life time. ‘My Treasure’ name of the account, she said her institute is devoted to helping young people achieve their goal. They cater for the student the bank has also provide and account name ‘the swag account’ that student can make go use of in their life time.
The program was grace by various dignitaries from different business facets and also students who have already enrolled in the institution. The program was climax by questions from the audiences.