The pilot project started with five students namely Fatou Dampha, Njemeh Camara, Ndey Amie Ngerr, Isatou Makalo and Nyalling Sandeng. Also, plans are under way to sponsor more students if the pilot project is successful.
The project aimed to impact skills and knowledge to the youngsters to ensure they get self-employment and employability. The completion of the project would enable the beneficiaries to be self-employed and create jobs.
In his opening remarks, Samuel Owusu Amako, national coordinator for Larry S. Kacher Family Foundation said the ultimate goal for the foundation is to provide humanitarian services to the needy to ensure human development.
“The course is an eight month programme. So, we do not want the students to only graduate but to graduate with distinction. We want you to go through the centre and to be educated so that after completion even if you are not employed you can become entrepreneurs and then employ other people,” he said.
“We want you to be useful people in the community,” he added, while thanking the founder for the benevolence to the young ones.
Pauline Kacher, wife to Larry Kacher expressed delight on the smooth implementation of the project, saying “I am very happy to be here. I love fashion designing. I have a very good understanding of sewing. So, I am very excited with you (students).”
She said the project will enable students to have good skills and be able to live a decent life in the near future.
Larry S. Kacher, founder and president of Larry S. Kacher Family Foundation expressed delight with his foundation successfully sponsoring the young girls. He noted that there is more expectation from the beneficiaries.
Moving forward Kacher said the students have the responsibility to acquire the requisite skills and knowledge to ensure they help their successors and others in the society.
He said if the pilot project is successful, his foundation will sponsor several other Gambian youth.
Binta Janneh Jallow, deputy mayor of Kanifing Municipality cum ward councilor for Bakau New Town commended the foundation for the initiative. She said the skills institution is significant to maintaining cultural and traditional outfit in the society as well as helping to promote youth employment and employability.
Thus, she urged parents to support their children to ensure they acquire the requisite skills. She also urged the students to take their education seriously.
Isatou Makalo, a student expressed gratitude to the sponsors for their tremendous support. She assured them that they will take their education seriously to ensure the sustainable development goal is attained.
