ATE VocATE SUPPORT PROJECT-2021
Education, Training, and lifelong learning calls for innovative approaches in skills development, which is directed towards poverty reduction and socio-economic empowerment of rural poor and their communities (Geneva, 17 June, 2017). This is to ensure that quality of education and training is improved.
Action Through Enterprise (ATE) through its programs has ensured that training is linked to economic and employment opportunities, and that disadvantaged target groups in the community, including poor women and people with disabilities can realize these opportunities to be economically empowered. Achieving gender equality and empowering rural girls and women are key elements of ATE’s work. For example, ATE understands how critical it is for women to have a steady income, so they can support themselves and their families.
The VocATE program, which focuses on providing skills and training to school drop-outs, poor and young people with disabilities has greatly supported its participants and beneficiaries. ATE ensures that they are engaged in apprenticeships with successful local vocational trainers who are doing very well in areas such as dressmaking and weaving. These women serve as mentors and role models, guiding the young women through their transition. The apprentices undergo a 3-year vocational training and skills acquisition, after which, ATE supports them with seed funding, training and mentoring to become owners of small successful vocational businesses. The first batch of trainees which consisted of 7 young women completed and graduated last year, 2020 and supported this year, 2021, to be masters of their own.
ATE has again supported 12 young girls and women in November this year. On 12th November, 2021, these young girls and women were supported with equipment and materials needed for their training (some of which will be supplied subsequently to them each month), payment of apprenticeship fee and monies to provide uniform.
A picture of the 12 trainees receiving their materials witnessed by their guardians and trainers
Just when these young women, school drop-outs and disabled children thought all hopes were lost, ATE has given them a reason to dream and work towards achieving those dreams. All hopes have been brought to life and they can also contribute to community development. ATE has also made children with disability and their guardians realize that Disability Is Not Inability, which means that they have extraordinary talents that can contribute towards the economy for development and therefore should be included in society.
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- Belinda, a SNAP child and her guardian, all beaming with smiles after receiving her materials
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- Blessing, another SNAP child with her guardian and trainer-all happy for the support
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- Patricia, looking passionate and enthusiastic at work, days after receiving the support
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- Belinda is getting started already!
Thank you ATE for the support. To all who donated, a very big thank you! It is through your donations that ATE has been able to accomplish this and continue working towards the long term goal. Your support is helping to make the difference!
By Kanyiri Kuube-Isaan