Catholic foundation empowers 10 youths in Ebonyi

Missio Stifund Foundation, an Austria-based Catholic foundation, has empowered 10 indigent youths of Ebonyi, trained in different skills acquisition.

The youths were trained under the Empowering Youths for Self-Reliance (EYES) project, domiciled in St. Patrick Catholic Church, Kpiri-Kpiri, Abakaliki, and funded by the Missio Stifund Foundation.

The empowerment equipment was distributed by Rt. Rev. Peter Chukwu, the Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki diocese, during the graduation ceremony of the batch one trainees of the EYES Project on Thursday in Abakaliki.

The cleric commended the graduands for completing their training programmes in their various chosen careers.

Chukwu while commending the foundation said that the Diocese has a lot to benefit from its programmes.

He urged the beneficiaries to complement the efforts of the Church by putting into good use the equipment given to them to start their new trades and use it to add economic value to their lives.

He further commended Dr Nkechi Emma-Echiegu, the EYES Project director in Ebonyi, for her steadfastness and commitment to ensuring the success of the programme in the state.

“We all know how difficult it is to gain the trust of Europeans; it is because of the trust and confidence the director engendered in them that they can give this type of support.

“I want to thank her especially; please keep on justifying that trust and confidence, I’m sure that our relationship with the Missio Foundation will yield something greater.

“We expect that you will use the equipment generously provided for you to begin your businesses and do well in them so that you will leave a good impression as the pioneers of the project,” the bishop said.

Earlier, the project director noted that the EYES project is aimed at empowering youths in market-informed, demand-driven entrepreneurship.

Emma-Echiegu explained that the project is collaborating with the Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria (CWON) and the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) with funding from the Missio Foundation, Austria.

She explained that the goals and motives of the project were to seek income generation for the youths and keep them from getting into conflict with the law.

“What is happening now is that the young, the old and even the children are getting frustrated due to the dire economic situation; we are all getting frustrated and this is a way of getting them out of trouble and improving household food security,” she said.

She explained that the selection of trainees followed a seamless process, adding that the beneficiaries were trained by qualified and certified vendors.

She added: “In November 2022, Missio Stiftung Austria approved the funding of a sustainable and revolving empowerment project − Empowering Youths for Economic Self-Reliance to empower 50 youths across
the Abakaliki Diocese.

“This project is domiciled at St Patrick’s Catholic Church Kpiri-kpiri, Abakaliki, and is aimed at
creating young entrepreneurs as role models in Abakaliki while reducing destructive discontent, high criminality
and drug abuse among youths and young adults.

“The project had since commenced with 50 youths that were selected across the different Deaneries of the Diocese and trained in the various entrepreneurship areas.”

According to her, beneficiaries were trained in GSM Repairs, Photography, Bakery, Computer Repairs and
Installations, Make-Up and Gele Artistry, Computer Programming and Graphic Design, Shoe Making and Leather works.

She said that the trainees also received training in Decorations, Bead Making, Tailoring, Barbing, Alumaco Works as well as Painting.

“After the project team monitoring exercise, we are proud to confirm that some of these youths are ready to start as owners of their own businesses and the project team will be delivering the start-up kits to them to commence this milestone career,” she added.

The director added that 40 persons are currently undergoing training in tailoring; GSM repairs, computer repairs and installation, computer designs and graphics, shoe making and leather works.

“We didn’t pick their skills for them, they chose for themselves and they are being trained by the best vendors we have around here.

“Each of the items distributed cost between N150,000 and N450,000 and we are giving them out as loans which must be paid back by beneficiaries in line with an agreement with our partnering bank,” she said.

NAN reports that the next batch of trainees will graduate in October. (NAN)