World Vision Ghana has expanded its annual Birthday Bounce Back programme in the Builsa South District to include education support and vocational skills training aimed at improving opportunities for children and young people.
The programme, held at Fumbisi Preparatory School, with funding support from World Vision U.S., brought together pupils and education stakeholders to celebrate children while promoting their wellbeing and future prospects.
As part of the Birthday Bounce Back celebration, pupils were served hot meals as the organisation marked the occasion.
Speaking at the event, World Vision Programme Manager for the Builsa South Area, Nsoh Moses, said the organisation was expanding its interventions to include education as part of efforts to support the holistic development of children.
He explained that World Vision Ghana previously focused mainly on water, sanitation, and health interventions but has now integrated education into its next five-year strategy.
Mr. Nsoh said the organisation had extended its support to five schools in the district through the provision of teaching and learning materials, school furniture, health items, sports equipment, and livelihood support.
The items provided included 1,100 storybooks, 800 textbooks, 1,000 Jay Kay Publishing exercise books, 800 World Vision-branded exercise books, 26 boxes of toothpaste, 200 toothbrushes, 25 footballs, and 52 dual desks.
He added that the organisation had acquired 15 sewing machines this year and would enrol 15 new apprentices under the vocational skills training programme.
“We have been able to acquire 15 sewing machines this year. We are getting 15 new apprentices to be enrolled,” he said.
Mr. Nsoh said the skills training programme was aimed at equipping young people with practical skills that could help them become self-reliant in the future.
Esther Akaateba, a dressmaking instructor in the Builsa South District, said the apprenticeship programme was creating opportunities for young people to acquire vocational skills. She explained that many young people were interested in learning a trade but lacked the resources needed to begin.
“We have so many people outside there, they want to learn, but no machine, no money for them. If you have the machine, you don’t have money for them to pay. If you have the money, you cannot afford the machine or the fees,” she said.
Madam Esther said the support from World Vision Ghana had helped remove some of the barriers preventing young people from pursuing dressmaking as a livelihood.
World Vision Ghana said the Birthday Bounce Back programme forms part of its broader efforts to improve the wellbeing of vulnerable children through education support, water and sanitation interventions, and livelihood development.
The organisation believes that combining education support with vocational skills training will help children and young people in Builsa South gain better opportunities and build sustainable futures.
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