The Kumasi Center for Lifelong Learning (KCLL) has
initiated an entrepreneurship series to empower young Ghanaians with information,
training, mentorships and business start-up support.
500 young people would be supported to set up
innovative community-based businesses to create jobs at the end of an initial two
year cycle, under a pilot scheme with the North Suntreso Assembly of the Church
of Pentecost.
The project involves initiation of ideas that address
community challenges in the areas of environment, agriculture, livelihoods,
literacy among others.
Executive Director of the Center, Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, has envisaged
the series would become the flagship avenue to develop sustainable
entrepreneurs poised to address social needs.
“There are lots of challenges that we have as a country
and each of those challenges is an opportunity for people to make money, for
people to change their lives and for people to be able to make impact in other
people’s lives”, he stated.
According to Mr. Adu-Gyamfi, targeted beneficiaries
work in groups on ideas that translate into businesses. “When they develop the
ideas to certain levels, we have mentorship programme, with the kind support of
the Barclays Bank through their Community Support Project, that support them
regards setting up their businesses, sustaining the businesses and also
building up the management structure and ensuring the business grow”, he said.
The KCLL has been involved in the introduction of new
modules in embedded systems and micro-electronic training for Engineering and
Computer Science students at the KNUST.
Mr. Adu-Gyamfi noted that the Center is focused on high-end
technology and social entrepreneurship as well as working with people in the
informal sector to access the requisite tools and finance to successfully run
their businesses.
Meanwhile, Norbert Opare-Gyan, a youth leader of the
Pentecost Church, has emphasised the need for churches to concentrate on devising
socio-economic interventions in addition to their spiritual activities.
“If somebody is not working, the temptation for him to commit
crime or do something bad would be so high on him, but if the person is well
occupied we believe and trust that the person can organise himself as well as
build his spiritual life”, he noted.
Mr. Opare-Gyan says the Church’s partnership with KCLL
is to aid unemployed graduates and other young people in the church and within the
community to start profitable ventures.
Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh
No comments:
Post a Comment