Vocational Training

JOB Training

Each trainee is matched with a business in the closest city, Tamale. Most study and work as apprentices for two years. Learning progress is assessed through interviews of both the trainee and the local business owner. Additionally, families and trainees meet with the project coordinator to ensure that everyone is committed to and benefitting from the program. Engage Globally provides training fees, averaging $600 per year, and required supplies such as tools for each trade. In some cases, we also provide funding for transportation and a daily meal. This project contributes to Engage Globally's larger focus on gender equity. Two-thirds of the trainees are young women, which helps increase economic opportunities and reduce gender inequalities. Rukia, pictured here, is shown graduating from her regional weaving program, wearing a dress that she designed and sewed herself.

Small Business Growth

When trainees graduate, they are typically hired by the businesses where they have trained. However, some graduates want to open their own small businesses in their home communities. Engage Globally supports business creation by funding land purchase or rental, construction of a business facility, and provision of tools, such as sewing machines. Pictured on the left is a seamstress business opened by three program graduates. This sewing center was one of the first formal woman owned businesses in our partner communities. Today, the shop co-owners are training new vocational students. Other graduates have opened their own businesses in bicycle repair and smock making.

Intersectionality
and support of our community-led work

Vocational graduates support our other programs in a variety of ways. For example, the seamstresses, pictured right, sew all of our early childhood education uniforms. Bicycles, which are used by students in our scholarship program, are maintained and repaired by a vocational graduate who has opened his own local shop. A wood working trainee constructs stools for outdoor classrooms. Other graduates help with school construction as well as new trainee placement and mentoring. When possible, we also contract with local businesses that train these vocational students. For example, a local business that trains participants in woodworking also produces all of the school desks for our early childhood learning centers.

Vocational Trainee Stories:

Salifu

Salifu is a vocational trainee student learning how to sew with the Madam Sherafa Sewing Center. She says, “When I finish completely with training, I will also like to start my own shop and train others on the skill.”

basiru

Basiru is learning in the vocational training program with the Kpahim Bang Motor Repair Shop. Basiru says, “I like it because a lot of my colleagues are learning it and I like to also learn it. Fixing things is my hobby.”

musharafa

Musharafa is strengthening her sewing skills through the vocational training program. She explains that, “When I learn the skill and start my own shop, I can help my family with their financial problems.”