The Alebtong District Woman MP, Dorcas Acen, has donated a total of over 70 sewing machines to support the youth skilling program in a bid to promote massive wealth creation by the young people.

While handing over the sewing machines to the benefiting training centers on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, MP Acen said that this will support her vision of youth empowerment through the skilling programs that are being conducted under the Dorcas Foundation.

“Earlier, I gave 30 sewing machines to the main center in Alebtong town council, and now I have delivered more than 70 sewing machines to the 14 subcounties so that training can take place at the grassroots near people,” MP Acen said.

Under the Dorcas Foundation, some 500 youth, including child mothers and school-dropped-out children, are currently being trained in various skilling disciplines in Alebtong district.

“The focus is to derive alternative sources of livelihoods, something that can bring additional incomes. As a leader, I’m lobbying to secure more training machines so more youth can be trained,” MP Acen noted.

She said the participants will be trained for six months, and later some trainees will return to train for level two for another year,” MP Acen said.

“We will later give trainees’ groups startup kits after completing their training to enable them to kick-start a business as a group, and then later they can individually start their own,” MP Acen said.

MP Acen noted that once the vulnerable youth are empowered, they will be able to find genuine livelihood sources other than engaging in criminal activities as a means of survival.

“We are training youths and child mothers in hairdressing, tailoring, bricklaying and concrete practice, carpentry, and other courses both at the main and sub-county centers so as to empower them with skills,” MP Acen noted.

The machines were delivered to beneficiaries during the belated celebration of International Women’s Day held at Alanyi Primary School, Abako Sub County, on Wednesday, March 27th.

During this same event, MP Acen distributed improved maize seeds to several local residents under her program to promote commercial farming in the area. She urged residents to engage in large-scale farming with government support from the Parish Development Program.

This is the third season in which MP Acen is distributing improved seeds to local residents under the Dorcas Foundation.