The Lifeline Nehemiah Projects in Kuntorloh, Wellington, east of Freetown, on Friday February 5, 2021, concluded a two-day orientation ceremony for over 300 new students who have been admitted to pursue a one year training course in various professions including Hospitality, Electrical Installation, Information Technology, Motor Mechanics and Plumbing.
Addressing the students, the Director of Administration of Lifeline Nehemiah Projects, Mr. Philemon S. Kamara, said that the courses offered under the projects are not for dropouts as many people perceived, rather they are meant to train young people to become professionals and become employable to enable them earn decent standards of living.
He revealed that those who have been accepted to pursue the courses should count themselves lucky as over one thousand two hundred people had applied for enrollment.
In his remarks, the Head of Training, Mr. Jabba Pessima, called on the students to endeavor to attend classes everyday as the courses are very intensive comprising theory and practical.
He noted that the courses are designed to train them physically, mentally, socially, morally, psychological and emotionally. He revealed that the trainees would be taught Basic English, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship, Customer Care Service and Mentorship.
He stressed that they should try to adhere to the strict code of conduct of the institution so that they will not lose their places to other people who are on a waiting list.
He disclosed that since the training programme started in 2012, over one thousand eight hundred young men and women have successfully gone through the programme and graduated, most of whom are now either gainfully employed or running their own businesses.
In his statement, the Lead Mentor, Pastor Albert Bob Dimoh, stated that the courses are designed to give the students life skills to enable them positively manage their lives.
“We develop your characters so that you can relate well with people from different backgrounds,” he stressed.
He told them that the core values of Lifeline are to serve the community, undertake team work, practice excellence, be accountable and transparent, never turn a blind eye and always maintain integrity.
In his keynotes address, the Executive Director of Lifeline Nehemiah Projects, Mr. Prince Tommy Williams, disclosed that the training course is being supported by the World Bank through the Government of Sierra Leone.
He recalled that Lifeline established the Betteh Tumara Technical and Vocational Training Institute in 2012 to give vocational and technical training to young men and women roaming the streets searching for opportunities to better their lives.
He expressed delight when he was noting that ‘Betteh Tumara’ has become a great success.
He lamented on the lack of requisite resources to enroll and train the thousands of young people who apply to become students of the institution every year, but thanked the World Bank for their support and also paid tribute to the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education for their support and guidance over the years.
He appealed for more support and partnerships from Government and from local and international non-Governmental to enable them achieve their objectives.
A conducted tour of the different departments of the institution climaxed the occasion.
By Abdul Hassan Fackie
11/02/2021. ISSUE NO: 8000