News Release

Church Hosts Open House at Self-Reliance Centers in Accra

In an effort to showcase services available to people who are unemployed or desire to learn job skills, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently held informative open houses at the Accra and Accra West Self-Reliance Centres.

David Dapaah-Mensah, Accra Self-Reliance Centre Manager, explained that the workshops and programs are designed to help individuals succeed in their job search. The ongoing courses are offered free as a service to the community and are available to both Church members and the general public.

The Self-Reliance Centres offer two kinds of workshops. Self-employment Workshops encourage determined entrepreneurs to develop a plan, improve an existing business or hatch an idea and transform it into a successful business venture.

Career Workshops are designed to help job seekers know the requirements of their future careers, prepare impressive curriculum vitae and equip themselves with skills needed to sail through any job interviews.

The Self-Reliance Centres also offer Accelerated Job Search (AJS) and Planning for Success programs. AJS is an intensive job-search program aimed at decreasing participant’s unemployed time period. It maximizes search efforts through a strategy of identifying and contacting resources.

Planning for Success programs are designed to help plan a pathway to education so employable skills can be acquired by making the best use of available institutions and resources.

Several participants who have successfully attended the workshops and acquired jobs in record time testified of their successes.

Emmanuel Forson reluctantly decided to enroll in the AJS program when he first heard of it. He was assured he would find a job in 35 days, but he did not have to wait that long. To his amazement, by the 14th day he had secured a job with a reputable company that deals in stationery and furniture.  

“Until I joined the program, I never knew my friends on WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter could be counted as resources I could rely on to find and secure a job,” Forson commented.

Lernard Abbey, who volunteered at the Accra Self-Reliance Centre for two years, found a good job with a top banking institution.  

“During the volunteer opportunity, I was trained to guide people on getting jobs at a faster pace,” Lernard said. “My own life has been made better ever since I learned and improved on how to be an effective planner.”

Abbey said he encourages people in need of good jobs to attend these workshops at the centres.

Elvis Aruhor, another volunteer at the Accra Self Reliance Centre, is an avid supporter of the available training.

“If people can take a leap of faith and participate in these amazing programs, they will be surprised at the speed with which they find jobs,” Aruhor said. 

One of the Church’s local leaders, Daniel Yirenya-Tawiah remarked that the Church does not only focus on the spiritual well-being of its members but takes practical steps to help individuals to help themselves. 

“This is what it means to be self-reliant,” Yirenya-Tawiah added.

Visitors at the open houses were allowed to walk through classrooms where the lessons and trainings are held and experienced for themselves some of the many skills they would acquire when they enroll for workshops.

Theresa Mensah was delighted to participate in the open house.

“I am so motivated and encouraged to keep up the dream of owning my own business someday,” she said. 

Docas Sowah, another visitor, said the open house has been a huge inspiration to her.

“I have witnessed the success of friends who have completed the courses offered here,” Sowah said. “I would like to follow their footsteps by registering to join the programs.”

Sixty-four-year-old Tony Yao-Ampah described the day’s activities as immensely useful. When asked whether he considered himself too old to benefit from the program, he smiled and said, “I am a carpenter. I can apply newly learned techniques to improve my business. But that is not the only reason I am here. I decided to participate and learn useful skills that I can pass on to my children so they can make better choices and position themselves to soar higher than their dad.”

Alexander Tandoh, Accra West Self-Reliance Centre manager, addresses the needs of individuals as they receive training in job skills, acquire tips on self-employment and learn about available jobs.

“Through counseling, one-on-one coaching and working with Church leaders, the centre has assisted many people in charting a career path that would lead them to realize their goal of becoming self-reliant,” Tandoh said. 

 

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