Gambia: Marie Bennetts Skills Training Centre

Gambia: a country full of youths who do not finish school due to pregnancy or general lack of money. These young people have little chance of finding (good) jobs, and can barely support themselves or their families. Unemployment is a huge problem, particularly in rural areas. Marie Bennetts Skill Training Centre is an educational institution that assists young people in learning a profession. This not only tackles youth unemployment, but also improves the socio-economic status of both the children and their families.

Net4kids supports a number of specific courses: typing and computer lessons, English, bookkeeping, textile, wood and metalworking, cooking classes and seamstress classes. The money is spent on hiring teachers to give the cooking and technical classes, and for the acquisition of materials such as cooking implements, a refrigerator, welding supplies, woodworking supplies, sewing machines and accessories. Furthermore, local workshops are contracted for internships and practical lessons, and graduates of the centre are assisted in setting up their own businesses. This year, numerous materials were bought, teachers were hired and the first vocational courses (sewing lessons) were started.