At least ninety-five students have graduated from the SOS Regional Mothers and Daughters Training Centre (RMDTC) over the weekend. Out of this figure, 25 earned certificates in social work, 7 earned diploma, 30 earned eradicate in catering and hotel management, 12 earned certificates in sewing and craftwork and 21 earned certificate in functional adult literacy. The graduation was held at the SOS campus in Bakoteh.
Isatou Nyang, representative of the board chairperson congratulated the graduating class, reminding them that most of the past graduates are now employed gainfully in both public and private institutions and are contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.
She reminded the graduating class to apply what they have learned with maximum diligence, ethic, moral and high professional standard and values.
Mrs. Nyang appealed to the government of The Gambia, organizations and individuals to support their programs and projects.
Ellen Maraizu, director of SOS RMATC recalled that the training centre was established in 1999 to train staff that offer care to children and young people, which include SOS children village directors, youth leaders and social workers.
“The training mandate extends to SOS care workers in the West and Central Africa regions include Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea Conakry.”
She pointed out that off recent the child and youth care has been faced with challenges that demands professional knowledge and skills for its efficient management.
She indicated that the career path of the Mothers SOS envisages advanced training that would position them better to manage the challenges of child and youth care work.
She highlighted that the inspiration to develop and offer a social work certificate programme in the centre was received by the visionary founder of SOS Kinderdorf Dr. Hermann Gmeiner ,who she quoted as saying, “we must make the profession of SOS Children’s village mothers attractive in the intellectual as well as in spiritual sense. We must create a new modern women profession of nurse and social work.’’