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Parents have been advised to enrol their children for skills and Vocational training programs during holidays instead of regular holiday lessons.
This was contained in the remarks of the Executive Director, Development Initiative For Community Impact, DICI, Rachael Missan-Ruppee, during the closing ceremony of the Summer Fest Skills and Vocational Training Program put together by the organisation.
Development Initiative for Community Impact, DICI, had organised a four weeks training for Primary and secondary schools children living in Ekurede Urhobo, Ekurede Itsekiri, Ugbuangue, Edjeba, Ajamimogha, Okere-Urhobo, and Ogunu community in the second edition of their Summer Fest skills, and Vocational training program.
Rachael while addressing children and parents present during the closing event, urged Government agencies, Multinationals, and humanitarian organisations to support the skills training as it is poised towards preparing future leaders.
“Over the years I have found out that when there is vacation like this the tendency for parents to take their children for summer school lessons are there, and the trend is on the rise, but when I did a scooping study i found out that it is the same thing the children were thought during their Academic session that they are also being thought again by the lessons; like English, Maths and every other subject”
“There are so many social ills, and there are contemporary ills that we need to teach children so we can catch them early and young, the Holy book said train up child the way he should go so when he grows up he will not depart from it”
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“The way the society is now, it is difficult for the children to be street wise compare to the way it was when we were growing up”
“Because most children do not know how to communicate, negotiate, assert their skills,and how consent needed to be seek before anything can be done to them, is causing skyrocket rise to issues of gender base violence”
“So that was what brought about we organising a Summer Fest Skills training; what that means is, during this time we didn’t teach Mathematics and English the conventional subjects in school, but we thought them how to operate the computer, we thought them leadership skills, Public speaking, Peace Education, Security Education, Human Right Education, Negotiation skills, Communication Skills, Refusal Skills, and assertiveness. This year edition we added Vocational skills, like the making of shoe, bag, Detoil, Soap, Bleach, and Souvenir bags”
“So just in four weeks we were able to impact these skills into these children at no cost, its our own way of helping the society as an NGO; but we hope to see sponsors and partners in our subsequent edition so we accommodate more children for this training” Rachael said.
Speaking with one of the kids who benefited from the training, Paul Fabian, expresses joy over the opportunity given to him at DICI Summer Fest, urging his friends to avail themselves to the opportunity in the next year edition.
“I have learnt how to operate the computer, Soap making, Detoil making, bleach making, and i have been equipped with leadership skills. I want to appreciate the organisers of this training for the privilege given to me to be part of this year edition of DICI Summer Fest Training” Paul Fabian said.
Ochor Olajide, another kid who participated in the 2nd Edition of the DICI Summer Fest Skills training, appreciate both his parents and the organisation for expending their time to impact them with knowledge.
“I have learnt how to use the Microsoft word,how to type headings, how to improve self esteem, and leadership skills”
“Before I came here I never knew how to do most of the things I can do now”
Joy Chika, said the training has given her opportunity to know more about the child right act in Delta state
“I now know that children now have their right act which protect them from traffickers”
Eloho Olise, a parent who was present at the closing event, expresses Joy over behavioural change of her child since he started the training.
“There are thing that Morgan use to do at home, but since he started the summer fest skills training he has change entirely for the best, his manners has totally change for the best”
The training coordinator, DICI 2019 Summer Fest Skills training program, Ayo Okotie, call on the Delta state government to come to their aid as she promised a better next edition of the program.
“Our training centre is small for the numbers of kids that we have, to the extent that we have to reject some applications from some children because of our space”
