Project Title: Ikpe Udok Vocational Education Project.

Project Initiators and BACKGROUND:  This project is initiated and currently being developed by Akwamfon Sustainable Community Association, Nigeria with Sustainable Development Network Limited UK. The project is to be located in Ikpe Udok village. Ikpe Udok is one of the smallest villages in Ikpe Annang clan, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Ikpe Annang is a clan of 14 villages. Ikpe Udok, a small village with roughly 100 households, can boast of less than 10 graduates and only very few people can afford to go learn vocational trade or set up their own vocational business. To learn more about Ikpe Udok Village, please click here to visit the BBC 'My Africa' where you can read more detailed  diary entries (with pictures), written by Eseme, our project coordinator in Nigeria, about the village.

 Project Aim:

The project, which is a natural extension of the Ikpe Udok Rural Education Project, aims to provide access to Basic Vocational Skills for the educationally and vocationally disadvantaged people of Ikpe Udok and neighbouring communities in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. 

 The main aims of this project include:

1. Providing those with no means to vocational training with  (a) means to their chosen apprenticeship training, (b) equipment and tools to set up workshop after apprenticeship (c) business skills training and mentoring to set up and run their vocational business properly (d) tutorials and encouragement to take recognised vocational certificate exams such as City & Guilds.

2. Providing career counselling for those trying to choose vocational training course.

3. Linking the people with possible sponsors for apprenticeship costs and exam fees.

4. Linking artisans (especially) creative artists with appropriate markets.

 Target Group:  The project will target educationally and economically disadvantaged people (5 to 45 years old) residing in Ikpe Udok and neighbouring villages of Ikpe Annang as well as others from any other communities willing to join the programme.

The type of people targeted include: 

(1)   Those currently in apprenticeship wanting training enforcement

(2)   Those seeking to enrol in apprenticeship

(3)   Primary and Secondary School leavers who cannot progress to higher education.

(4)   Unemployed graduates

(5)   Unskilled, uneducated people.

 Type of Vocational Training courses:

Obviously the project would like to see people train on a wide range of vocational skills, but how many training courses we actually run will depend on resources and trainers available. Initially, the project will choose one or three courses from the list below to start with and add the rest as we grow.  For example we are likely to start with sewing, woodwork, catering, creative arts, computer training and business skills courses.

 Below is the list of possible courses: 

Ø     Carpentry and woodwork  (among first set of courses to commence)

Ø     Sewing /tailoring (among first set of courses to commence)

Ø     Creative Arts and crafts (among first set of courses to commence)

Ø     Catering (among first set of courses to commence)

Ø     Knitting and other Needle Works (among first set of courses to commence)

Ø     Computer skills (among first set of courses to commence)

Ø     Business start-up and business management skills course (compulsory for all participants)

Ø     Housing construction

Ø     Hairdressing 

Ø     Welding and Fabrication

Ø     Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technician course

Ø     Tropical Agriculture

Ø     Mechanical Fitting, Plant Maintenance and Metal Machining

Ø     Telecommunications and Electronics Engineering

Ø     Television and Video Production

Ø     Journalism and Radio Competences  

DELIVERY APPROACH: 

(1)   For some courses that this project lacks the necessary training equipments, the project will deliver the theoretical aspects only, while the beneficiaries do on the job training (apprenticeship) elsewhere with an appointed local training workshop. 

(2)   For courses that this project has the necessary training equipments, the project will deliver both theoretical and practical on-job-training (apprenticeship). 

(3)   All participants (irrespective of their chosen course) will be encouraged to do a course thesis in form of a business plan that they develop from start of their training throughout the course period, so that at the end of their course they graduate out with a business plan that they could use to set up their own vocational business.

EXPECTED OUTCOME AT END OF APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING:

On completing a course, the trainee or apprentice could choose to do any of the following: 

(1)   Trainee opts to take exams (such as City & Guilds) exams.

(2)   Trainee opts not to take exam.

(3)   This project awards own certificate of attendant

(4)   Some trainees opt to set up own vocational business.

(5)   Some trainees opt to work for someone. 

For those setting up their own vocational business, this project could help in (1) sourcing equipments (2) hiring this project’s equipment or allowing use of at this project’s workshop (3) provide ongoing mentoring on setting up and running the business (4) Linking with micro-credit (5) Linking with market.

THE PROJECT’S IMMEDIATE NEEDS

 The project is currently in need of the following:

Ø      Used and new equipments and tools for training on any of the courses listed above.

Ø     Funds to recruit part-time trainers to supplement the volunteer (non salaried) trainers. 

Ø     Volunteer trainers.

Ø     Funds to build a more secure and safe training workshop.

Ø     Funds to support the trainees to meet Exam fees for respective National and international exams such as City & Guild.

Ø     Used and new computers, printers and related accessories to prepare teaching materials and for teaching basic computer skills.

Ø     Used and new equipments and tools to help those wanting to set up own vocational business to do so.

Ø     Funds to help those wanting to set up own vocational business to do so. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

You can get involved as:

Ø     A Sponsor for a trainee’s vocational (apprenticeship) training. 

Ø     A Volunteer for any aspect of this project (trainers, advisers etc, etc)

Ø     An Alliance Partner 

Ø     A Fundraiser for the project.

Ø     A donor of funds. 

Ø     A donor of new or used equipments, books, computers and any other materials needed by this programme 

Ø     A sponsor of a qualified apprentice wanting to set up his/her own vocational business.

Please let us know how you can help. Monetary donations can be made by cheque made payable to "Sustainable Development Network Limited". Donations by "Standing Order" can also be arranged.

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