By Binta Jaiteh
Seventy-nine students of the Fajara Skills Development Centre were over the weekend awarded Diplomat certificates as they have completed their courses in different areas of study which include Sewing and Fashion Design; Cookery and Pastry and Hair Dressing.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Jean Able, CEO of the center gave background of Fajara Skills Development Centre saying it was established in 1999.
She thanked Youth Employment Project (YEP) for sponsoring 55 students of the development centre noting also that 13 students were from the National Youth Service Scheme and others from private sponsors.
As the students graduated, she made them realized that they have moved from where they used to be to another level in term of skills knowledge with wise attitude and she wants them to remember that “life does not stop here. We keep on learning to the grave and there must be a strategy and action as this is just a stepping stone. You must be passionate with what you like and treat people the way you want to be treated.”
She advised them to learn from their mistakes, build and boost people up and that they should not pull people down or destroy their dreams and all these with hard work “so develop an internal moral guide to make you the right thing with the help of the Almighty,”
However she noted that “the arrival of COVID-19 has been a challenge to all the businesses and the construction of a new site, yes; we have survived far and very optimistic that come 2022 the situation will get better.”
According to her, the dominance of women is worth commendable the skills acquired among cookery and Pastry, Hair dressing and beauty therapy sewing and fashion design. The students had to undergo English law and mathematics fine arts and entrepreneurship state of current affairs was a daily routine which they disliked but build confidence in public speaking.
She thanked World Food Program for donating 5 toilet materials, 3 hand wash sink bowls and awarding them contract to sew visibility jacket for frontline workers under Wanja Kaira, and also IGI Gam-Star Insurance Company for the gas cooker donation.
Awa Secka, a diplomat graduate students among others share their experiences as regarding to the school, available courses and as well as eh outbreak of the Covid-19 which hindered their early graduation. They highlighted on the importance of their courses which are all very useful and lucrative.
Modou Touray YEP official, emphasized on his office mandate which is to empower the youths and “we were able to sponsor 150 students in partnership with different skill training school to develop the career of the youths.”
“All the teachers, parents and partners have contributed to make these children to get to this stage, we congratulate them. Each year with sponsor 1000 students and we are offering training to 25 different skill areas within Greater Banjul Area and could also extend to the rural Gambia,” he disclosed.