The New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), in collaboration with the Foundation for Excellent Living and Development for Youths and Women (FELAD), on Wednesday organised the second session of the Livelihood Skills Programme for adolescent girls in selected schools across Ekiti State, following an earlier session held last week.
One of the schools where the programme was held is Ayo Fasanmi Model College, Ado-Ekiti where students participated in practical sessions such as bead making and fascinator production as part of efforts to equip them with income-generating skills.
The training forms part of activities under the Ekiti Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project and is linked to the Safe Space programme aimed at empowering adolescent girls with knowledge, confidence and practical life skills.
Speaking during a monitoring visit to Ayo Fasanmi Model College, the Executive Director of FELAD, Mrs. Olajumoke Omisore, said the livelihood skills training was designed to complement the Safe Space initiative where the girls are already receiving mentorship and life-skills education.
“In the Safe Space sessions, the girls have been taught several important topics including menstrual health, climate change and mental health. As we are building their capacity and self-esteem, there is also a need to equip them with practical skills that can help them make money while still in school,” she said.
Omisore explained that the skills selected for the programme were carefully chosen to ensure accessibility for the students.
“The skills were deliberately selected because they are not capital intensive. They are skills the girls can learn within a short period of time and start practising immediately. With little or no capital, they can begin to make items such as beads and fascinators and earn money from them,” she added.
She also expressed satisfaction with the level of creativity displayed by the students during the practical sessions
“Many of the girls showcased their practical works this morning, and I was excited to witness their creativity and innovations. Their confidence is improving and they are beginning to see that they can actually create amazing and useful things with their hands,” she said.
According to her, the organisations involved are responsible for mobilising facilitators and implementing the training within the Safe Space framework.
“Our assignment in this collaboration is to mobilise community facilitators and train the girls. The Safe Space programme itself is still ongoing for both boys and girls,” she said.
Also speaking, the school counsellor of Ayo Fasanmi Model College, Mrs. Arinola Osalusi, described the initiative as a welcome development for the students.
“This is a very good opportunity for our students. Many parents spend a lot of money for their children to learn these kinds of vocational skills outside the school, but our girls are learning them here,” she said.
She noted that the skills would help the students become more self-reliant in the future.
“If they are serious about what they have learnt, they can establish themselves with these skills and even use them to support themselves when they get to higher institutions,” she added.
She also commended the organisers for investing in the future of young girls.
“They want the best for our girls. They want them to become responsible and independent women in the future, and I truly appreciate their efforts,” she said.
Some of the participating students also expressed gratitude to the organisers for giving them the opportunity to learn new skills.
One of the students, Glory Bernard, who participated in the bead making session said the training had opened her eyes to a new way of earning money.
“I really appreciate the organisers for teaching us bead making. I have learnt how to make different types of beads, and I believe I can start making them and selling to people. It is something I can do even while I am still in school,” she said.
Another student, Adeola Abolaji, who took part in the fascinator design training described the programme as exciting and useful.
“I am very happy to be part of this programme. Learning how to make fascinators is interesting, and I now know a skill that I can use to make money in the future. I thank the organisers for bringing this opportunity to our school,” she said.
The Livelihood Skills Programme remains one of the key components of the Safe Space initiative under the Ekiti AGILE project aimed at strengthening the confidence, life skills and economic potential of adolescent girls across the state.
