The focus of the Youth Enterprise and Skills Development Centre (YESDEC), a private-public sector partnership, is to make successful entrepreneurs out of young artisans.

The Centre, therefore, provides training to young artisans aged 18 to 45 years to improve on their production and management skills with support to go into production.

Ms Selasi Segbedzi, Volta Regional Co-ordinator of YESDEC, gave the explanation in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the presentation of materials to 40 beneficiaries including some teachers to go into soap making after ten days training.

She said each beneficiary was given GHc260.00 worth of materials.

Ms Segbedzi explained that the beneficiaries would be expected to repay the GHc260.00 in two years through a “susu” scheme at 50 pesewas a day.

She said they would be monitored by a team to ensure that they progressed towards becoming very successful entrepreneurs.

Ms Segbedzi said 50 other beneficiaries were trained in fashion design and garment and given tools to ply their vocation.

She said several modules were available under the programme, which people could take advantage of.

Ms Segbedzi said those interested in the training could register at the YESDEC office in Ho or any district office of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) with one passport picture and any Ghanaian identity card.

She said the Programme would also be extended to unskilled people to enable them become productive.

Ms Segbedzi said the Programme offered opportunities to people to diversify their means of livelihood as a way of overcoming poverty and improving their livelihood.

Ms Jessie Ekumebu, Volta Regional Co-ordinator of the NYEP, urged the beneficiaries to propagate the usefulness of the programme by exhibiting their skills and how lucrative it is.

She said there is always a ready market for soap.

“It is only when you are lazy that you will not succeed”, she said.