Evelyn's Story

Evelyn is one of the youth apprentices who recently graduated from the program. She is the eldest in her family, and was born in the small farming town of Kasoa. When she was 12-years-old, she moved to the city of Bechem to get a better education and help her aunt run her business.

Evelyn graduated from high school in 2012, but couldn’t find work. Without a job, she stayed home with a dream to become a seamstress but no means to make it happen. When she heard about the Youth Apprenticeship Program, Evelyn knew it was the opportunity she’d been waiting for.

Evelyn loves sewing. Her favourite activity is designing new styles of dresses and over three years of training with her Trade Master Mrs Boakye, she feels confident helping customers choose the right pattern.

Evelyn sat the National Vocational Training Institute Examination in April. She was nervous, but knew that it would help her build her own business as a seamstress.

For now, she is continuing to work in her Trade Master’s shop while she saves money to start her own business. She hopes that within a year she will receive a loan to start her own tailoring shop.

The apprenticeship has helped Evelyn realise her dreams and begin to leave poverty behind. In her words, it has given her “a working hope for the future".

Kwadwo's Story

Kwadwo is the second of five children, from a small village on the outskirts of Bechem in Ghana. He graduated from high school in 2011, but could not pursue further education due to difficulties in paying school fees. Without work, Kwadwo stayed home with no plans for his future, or ideas for what to do next.

Kwadwo heard about the youth apprenticeship program from a friend, and after attending an orientation session, he decided to apply for an apprenticeship in carpentry. Kwadwo likes carpentry because he enjoys working with wood, and likes building. Kwadwo plans to open up his own business now that he has completed the apprenticeship.

Kwadwo now lives with his older brother who is a mason in Bechem. He earns a wage from his Trade Master when they are working together on construction sites. He also earns some extra money through reparation work during his spare time on the weekends.

The apprenticeship has helped Kwadwo realise his dreams and begin to leave poverty behind.

Your Update in March 2016

70 APPRENTICES

Thanks to your support, 70 apprentices graduated in February 2016, after completing a three-year apprenticeship. Many were trained in dressmaking, while others learned skills in motor vehicle maintenance and carpentry.

BUSINESS SKILLS

Apprentices focused on developing their entrepreneurial and management skills training, preparing them to start their own businesses.

HEALTH TRAINING

Health training is also provided through Opportunity’s Youth Apprenticeship Program. With this knowledge, diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Ebola can be prevented.

Your Update in October 2016

CELEBRATING 70 GRADUATES!

With your support, 70 youth apprentices completed their three-year apprenticeships earlier this year. Already, some graduates have started businesses in their chosen field, including areas ranging from dressmaking to mechanics. Eventually, some will begin to employ others in their communities too.  

31 QUALIFIED WITH NATIONAL REGISTRY

31 apprentices have already sat the National Vocational Training Institute Examination, a formal recognition of their skills.

Among these graduates, there have already been improvements in their income levels as a result of their new profession. Over time, they will be able to receive additional loans from Opportunity International Australia’s partner Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans to invest in the growth of their businesses.

50 APPRENTICES COMMENCING

Thanks to your giving, 50 more young people have just commenced their three-year apprenticeship in the Brong- Ahafo region of Ghana.

In the south of the country, these young people come mainly from rural backgrounds and have moved to cities like Sunyani in search of work.

Diana's Story

The eldest of six children, 21-year-old Diana lives with her parents in Awaso village, near Bibiana in Ghana.

When she started high school, Diana's parents could no longer pay the fees needed to send her to school. Forced to drop out, Diana began helping her parents on their farm.

Despite not finishing school, Diana dreamed of managing her own business. From her parents' experience, she knew farming would not give her a secure future.

Diana was thrilled to hear about the opportunity to become a youth apprentice. Traditionally apprentices in Ghana must pay their Trade Masters, a cost Diana could never even dream of affording.

Now thanks to your support Diana is on her way to becoming a tailor. She is learning quickly and gaining valuable experience in her Trade Master's workshop. Diana looks forward to the day she graduates and can start her own business using her new skills.

Your Update in March 2017

THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB

A major barrier to learning a trade can be the cost of the tools and basic materials each apprentice must supply themselves. Thanks to your support, each apprentice was given the equipment needed for their chosen trade at a formal program launch attended by parents, trade masters and community representatives. Having access to their own equipment is a big factor in the future success of the young apprentices. Equipment includes woodworking tools for carpentry apprentices, sewing accessories for future tailors or wrenches, ratchets and sockets for young mechanics.

EQUIPPED FOR THEIR JOURNEY

Beyond learning the skills of their chosen trade, it’s essential that youth apprentices also learn important life skills. Many apprentices missed out on finishing school and most have never had a regular job. In August apprentices attended the first one-day skills workshop where they learnt about expectations in the workplace, managing their finances and health and hygiene practices. 

SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY

With apprenticeships well underway the young people have settled into their new routines of attending work every day. The team from Sinapi Aba Trust, Opportunity’s program partner, visits each apprentice at their workplace at least once every two months to check on their progress and discuss any challenges they may be experiencing.

Meet Evan

22-year-old Evan lives with his parents and four younger siblings in Kwamekrom, a village near Bibiani in western Ghana.

Since he was a boy Evan has dreamed of working with his hands, either as a mechanic or an electrician. After finishing high school Evan decided to pursue his dream. He went from mechanic to mechanic all over the city looking for an opportunity to learn a trade. The only offers Evan received were for traditional apprenticeships. In Ghana this means working for free while paying for all your own equipment and supplies.

With no savings to draw on, covering the high cost of the training with no income for a few years was not an option for Evan. Instead he worked with his parents tending their farm.

One day Evan heard a radio advertisement for the youth apprenticeship program. Unlike traditional apprenticeships, this program meant Evan could study under a trade master without paying the high fees while receiving support to buy equipment and supplies.

Evan’s excitement at the opportunity to pursue his dreams was clear in his application. His enthusiasm impressed the local team who could see his motivation and commitment.

Thanks to your support Evan is now on his way to becoming a certified auto-electrician. He is completing his apprenticeship under Mr Osei, who has become his role model. Evan is doing very well. He is eager to learn new skills and dedicated to gaining the knowledge he will need to one day run his own business.

Your Update in October 2017

Workshops, health insurance and committees are some of the measures designed to help young people complete their apprenticeships. So far they are proving effective – this intake is reporting 100% participation. All 50 apprentices are well on their way to finishing the three-year program and breaking the cycle of poverty as they secure ongoing employment or become entrepreneurs.

COMMUNITY MATTERS

Formed soon after apprenticeships begin, committees of parents and trade masters are a forum for ongoing support. Apprentices can raise issues and challenges, with the support of the group to find solutions. These are also a useful forum for apprentices to support each other or seek counselling.

KNOWLEDGE TO TURN SKILLS IN TO INCOME

Apprentices recently attended a three-day workshop covering business management. Topics covered ranged from choosing a location to attracting new customers. The apprentices are now equipped to consider starting their own businesses after graduating. As part of the program, graduates can apply for a small loan to start their own venture.

HEALTHY APPRENTICES

For families living in poverty even small illnesses can be a major setback. All apprentices receive national health insurance during their training. This means in the case of accident or illness apprentices can receive the care they need and return to their roles with minimal delay.

Your Update in March 2018

IN-DEMAND SKILLS

Youth apprentices learn the skills and knowledge they need to continue in their chosen trades, and even to start their own businesses. The trades the apprentices are learning are in high-demand in the towns and cities where they live. Tailoring is by far the most popular, especially among the female apprentices, while others are learning trades including refrigeration, carpentry and catering.

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GHANA’S YOUTH

By targeting vulnerable young people, the apprenticeship program is helping to overcome Ghana’s high unemployment rates while supporting graduates to break the cycle of poverty. About 70% of apprentices are young women, who face even greater challenges getting a job. When parents struggle to afford school fees it is often their daughters who stop going to school first. Instead these young women stay home and help in the home.

MORE THAN JOBS

While learning a trade is central to securing an ongoing livelihood, the program also equips apprentices with vital life and health skills for holistic support. Every three months the apprentices attend three-day workshops where they participate in role plays, group discussions, and short presentations.

By the end of their three-year apprenticeship, the young people will have covered these key themes:

Business management

• Business planning
• Business creation and management
• Calculation and accounting
• Customer acquisition and marketing
• Time management
• Saving
• Labour law

Health and life skills

• Alcohol and drug abuse – causes and consequences
• Hygiene and nutrition
• Preventing and managing sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/Aids
• Protection against infectious diseases like Ebola, Cholera etc.
• Family planning as well as the prevention of early pregnancies

Isaac's Story

23-year-old Isaac is now in the third year of his auto mechanic apprenticeship. Isaac lives at home with his parents and younger siblings. After finishing high school, Isaac dreamed of studying to become an engineer. But the income his parents earn from their farm is barely enough to meet the family's daily needs, meaning the high cost of university was well beyond his reach. With little choice, Isaac spent two years helping his parents on the farm – until he heard about the Youth Apprenticeship Program.

Isaac quickly found out more and signed himself up, eager to gain a trade and secure a sustainable income. He chose mechanics with the goal of one day going on to become an engineer. For now, Isaac is planning to open his own mechanics workshop after he graduates, closer to home – often Isaac has no money for the bus, and must walk the long distance to and from his trade master's workshop.

YAP is great! The program is here to help the youth. I want to tell others about it, so that more young people have the chance to participate.

Isaac, mechanic apprentice

Your Update in October 2018

Two years ago, 50 young people began their apprenticeships. As they enter their third and final year, so far only one apprentice has left the program – this is the highest retention rate for a group of apprentices in the program's 15 years.

GROWING IN CONFIDENCE

In addition to the on-the-job trade skills they're learning from their tradxae masters, apprentices are benefitting from regular workshops covering useful business and life skills. The trade masters can see the difference these workshops make – reporting their YAP apprentices are more reliable and goal-oriented than their regular apprentices.

Seeing the apprentices at regular intervals, the workshop facilitators are well-placed to report on changes in the young people over the course of their apprenticeship too:

This is the fourth workshop I've delivered to this group of apprentices. I've experienced tremendous change in the youth – now they are much more confident and open.

Mr Eric Sakah, Business Management facilitator

PREPARING FOR THE JOB

Early next year the apprentices will sit their final examination to receive accreditation from the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI). Preparation has already begun, with a trial examination held a year out to ensure the apprentices understand what is expected, and where they need to improve their skills. After the trial exams, trade masters spent a day with each apprentice to go through their results and develop plans to work on areas of concern over the next twelve months.

Meet Grace

Grace always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. As a teenager she finished junior high school – but with her single mum struggling to make ends meet, she couldn't keep going to school. 

Grace jumped at the opportunity of the Youth Apprenticeship Program. She's developed an excellent relationship with her trade master, who describes her as a fast-learner. 

Over the past three years, Grace has gained more than practical skills in dressmaking. 

I like the capacity building workshops very much, especially the National Vocational Training Institute skills trainings. There we learned to sew bags and use different kinds of materials. I also think the business workshops will help me alot. I learned how to save and to price my products. After graduation I would like to stay with my trade master for a little while to do work and save some money. And then, I would like to start sewing for customers from home, so I could start my business. I hope I can support my mother with my income. 

Grace, Tailoring Apprentice