By Yunus S Saliu
It was a memorable event as Vicky’s Training and Skills Centre graduated 95 gaily dressed pupils from the center on Saturday after their successful completion of different courses of studies at the centre.
This year graduation held at the Metzy Residence Hotel marked the 11th graduation ceremony of the training and skills centre and was attended by some entrepreneurs, government officials, motivational speakers, parents and friends of the graduates.
Vicky’s Training Skills Centre (VTSC) is one of the most excel training and skills centers in The Gambia and it was established in 1999 by Victoria Tamba with commitment of providing quality training, skills and careers well designed to suit the needs of the market force to early school leavers. And also to caters for women and men, home makers and those who could not be absorbed into the formal education and employment sector.
According to Victoria Goddard Tamba, founder and director of studies of the Vicky’s Training and Skills Centre, the inclusive development approach taken by the centre has changed lives of many and has led the path to sustainable development through training in various skills.
She disclosed that the training centre has a full-fledged skill upgraded programs which has converted hundreds of youth in The Gambia into skilled and productive members of society noting that “since inception to date the centre has produced over 1000 qualified skilled and proactive men and women that are currently working in The Gambia and abroad successful entrepreneur on hairdressing skilled acquired.
She thanked all sponsor, partners to the centre while explained that the courses offer at the centre is structured towards practical skills to enable everyone earn income for sustainability. And over the years, she noted, the centre has been receiving students under the sponsorship of the National Service Scheme (NYSS), “while, NAQAA sponsored by ECOWAS migration, Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), Spain Migration Fund (SMF) under the umbrella of ECOWAS, Gambia Growth and Competitiveness Project (GGCP), and GIZ among other relevant agencies.”
The management and the centre, she added, has registered tremendous successes in facilitating sponsorship programs with Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and other agencies for women, school leavers, especially the less privilege pupils among.
Cecilia Goddard, one of the invited guest speakers urged the graduates to take good care of their customers through good customer service delivery, saying the best way to excel fast as an entrepreneur “is to have good attitude, behavior, good communication with customers; dedication; empathy; and to be able to fix everything without turning down the customers. So, you have to go out all there to explore your knowledge.”
As this is just the beginning of knowledge, she encouraged them to be more creative in their profession and further learn about their career to make them more knowledgeable with this they will be able to make their customers comfortable and have belief in their works “and not forget to say thank you to your customers.”
Demba Sallah, PRO of National Association of Vocational Skills Training Institutions (NAVSTI) of The Gambia gave a brief background of the association as relates to provision of skills development across the country.
He congratulated the graduates and advised them to make use of the experiences they have gathered during the period of their courses.
Beatrice Mboge CEO of Gambian Women Chamber of Commerce (GWCC) congratulated the ninety-five graduated pupils and as well welcomed them to a begin of another stage of their life.
She gave in-depth information about the GWCC and its importance to them as they will be registered and help them to move from one step to another as regarding building their capacity in entrepreneurship, bookkeeping among other relevant knowledge they need.
Madam Senghore, one of the first batch students of the center among others delivered speeches at the ceremony, too.
