A new skilling centre has been opened in the Alebtong district. The centre is expected to skill vulnerable youth in the district in tailoring, garment design, hairdressing, welding, and information and communication technology.

Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua (Ajuri County Member of Parliament) on Tuesday commissioned the facility, which was set up by Alebtong District Woman MP Dorcas Acen.

The facility worth sh450m is expected to put more emphasis on child mothers, school dropouts, disadvantaged youth, single mothers, and women.

According to Acen, the district has a high number of school dropouts and teenage pregnancies, and her vision is to establish a skilling centre in all the sub-counties in the district.

The district has eight sub-counties: Omoro, Amugu, Abako, Awei, Abia, Apala, Akura, and Amugu town council including Alebtong.  

The facility established under Dorcas Foundations for Relief and Development is housed in Alebtong Town Council and it targets to register 300 learners per slot according to Acen.

“We are starting to enroll students as soon as possible because the facility is complete and what is remaining is the equipment,” she said.  

Bishop Alfred Acur briefing the minsters, Amos Lugolobi and Denis Hamson Obua on the Centre.

Last year, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among donated sh30m towards the project's completion aimed at equipping the category with employable skills to generate income and improve livelihood.

Obua appreciated Acen for coming up with the initiative and constructing a skilling centre.

He said the rate of school dropout and teenage pregnancy in the district is high as a result of poverty, but the establishment of the skilling centre is a big development for young people in the region.       

“As Government, I want to thank her for this development and it is in line with the National Resistance Movement's vision of equipping young people with hands-on skills to fight unemployment,” she said.