Vocational Training:

55 Trainees Graduate from ESARDEF Limbe

-The laureates specialized in ICT and Catering are the 2nd batch to graduate from the Limbe-based Computer and Vocational Training Centre. 

By Ticha Melanis in Limbe

The Director of Education for Sustainable and Rural Development Foundation, ESARDEF, Mbeng Etang, has called on the second batch of 55 graduating trainees from the centre to use the skills acquired to innovate as well as create employment in their various communalities.

               

Graduating trainees of ESARDEF Limbe

He was speaking during the graduation ceremony, on Saturday 25 January, at the old Presbyterian Church in Newtown Limbe.

                Mbeng told the laureates that their graduation ceremony should remain ever memorable in their lives and should be the beginning of the realization of their purpose in life.  He encouraged the graduates to positively impact the lives of those around them.

                He said training the students has not been all roses especially considering the socio-economic and political context of the times.

                “Apart from the logistics challenges we faced, the socio political crisis also affected us because sometimes we had to shut our doors because of the ghost towns declared by separatist fighters. There were also problems of constant power outages which forced us to stop classes intermittently,” Mbeng said, at once noting the devotedness and dedication of the 2nd batch of trainees, which according to him, contributed in no small measure to the successful end of the training course.

                He said the institution targets mostly the vulnerable persons in society especially women, youths and children, with particular attention given to single mothers and widows and IDPs in the forest or coastal areas who have limited access to education.

                “Our goal is to use education to reach out to the rural communities; specifically to foster literacy among disadvantaged children, women and youths through formal and informal training. We also assist in the provision of basic rural infrastructures for community development, to help communities maintain good health, prevent diseases and secure treatment by means of educative rural health care programs and more.”

                On behalf of the graduating students, Mildred Bechet Mbeng thanked the school administration for offering them free training for a period of six months. She said the training will go a long way to help them in life.

                Some of the graduates promised to establish catering businesses, while others said they would look for jobs as computer secretaries.

                They encouraged other youths to come to the institution and get empowerment because it is 100% free.

                ESARDEF Computer and Catering Vocational Centre, Limbe is offers a 100% free computer and catering training for youths and women for a period of six months. Graduates are awarded end-of-course- diplomas which opens the doors of the job market for them.

                The school is open for persons of age ranging from 13 years upward.

                For now the centre has an ICT and catering department, but hopes to include tailoring, hairdressing and fashion designing whenever the requisite resources are available.