One of the first graduates at the YMCA Technical Training Centre, in the capital city of Ghana, attributes his development and career success to the YMCA.

Julius Tantuo is now the Manager of the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) of Ghana, the body that certificates the graduates of the YMCA TTC. In his current position, he is actively seeking solutions to increase youth entry into the labour market which is characterised by low government priority given to trade professions and high unemployment.

“Entrepreneurship is important but there are no policies or systems in place to direct and encourage it. The co-op system was encouraged under the first regime, with budget set aside and a co-op bank especially for this purpose. Since this system was abolished and government stopped supporting entrepreneurship, the situation has worsened to the current crises,” he said.

The NVTI is working with the South African Department of Trade and Industry to try to use some of their models for youth economic empowerment, according to Julius. In particular, they hope to set up a system for industry to set aside budget to employ graduates as trainees.

Julius’s story is a real success case for the TTC. His father passed away when he was six years old and it was difficult for his mother to afford schooling for him and his three siblings.

The vocational training course he took at the YMCA was affordable. “During vacations, the jobs I got through the Centre helped to defray school fees. This bailed my family out as I paid for the fees during the second and third years. My mother was so proud of me.”

After graduating, he was employed by TTC for a year in the income-generation project. He then trained to become a professional technical teacher and taught at technical college.

“I had received so much benefit at the YMCA that I wanted to impart my skills and talents to benefit others through teaching,” he said. After teaching at a technical college, he then did a course on Management and Administration.

“The YMCA was the foundation of my life and helped me to develop others. It also taught me to save very early in my life. I am involved in much counselling now as a teacher and I use myself as a role model. I tell young boys about my difficult background and many have learnt to save through me,” he said.

Based at the head office in Accra, the TTC offers three-year courses in
• Carpentry
• Joinery
• Building construction
• Draftmanship
• Electrical installation