IDS vocational skills program is aimed at providing economic empowerment opportunities amongst vulnerable women and youth(girls) focusing on tailoring, knitting, hairdressing, detargent and cosmetic, backery and decoration. Others areas covered by the training include; small scale Agricultural production with particural emphasis on Poultry, fish and irrigational farming and animal production. Entrepreneurship development, market access/financial linkage services and provision of small business start-up capital through revolving fund for beneficiaries who do not have collacteral securities to obtain loan from financial institutions to boost income generating activities, employment opportunities and poverty reduction. Over 3,000 women and youth(girls) has so far benefited from the skills acquistion program with plan for further expansion. The IDS vocational skill training centre in 2010 received the United States of America(USA) Ambassador to Nigeria, Special Self Help (SSH) Project Grants to acquire modern facilities to improve on the quality of training and expansion of the project coverage amongst the target beneficiaries. The centre was officially commission on the 5th of May, 2011 by the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Amb. Terrence P. McCally who was represented by Karen Mehring, SSH Coordinator. Guests at the ceremony includes; Community women and youth(girls) beneficiaries, The District Head, HRH. Mal. Salihu, Karu LGC Chairman, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and Karu Local government Concil Social Welfare Officer Mal. Haruna Bako.
In recongination of the IDS skills acquisition contributions to women and girls economic empowerment. African Women Development Fund (AWDF) Ghana in 2013 supported the initiative with grants to train and provided start-up capital to vulnerable women and girls living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in Karu community and it environs. In the memorandum of understanding (MoU) sign by both parties, IDS was to use the grants for the training of the target groups on Fashion designing(Tailoring), knitting(dress making), Hairdressing, Hat/bead making, Catering/Decorations, Detergents/Cosmetics and small scale Agricultural production(poultry and fish farming) including entrepreneurship development and market access training. The one year project implementation duration started in October 2013 to September 2014 with the primary aims of boosting beneficiaries income generation, create employment opportunities and poverty alleviations among vulnerable women and girls infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. It will be recalled that in June 2013 AWDF staff including Rose and Solange of the grants making department and Nene of media department paid familiarization visit to IDS office. The highlight of the visits was the inspections of the IDS training facilities and interaction with vulnerable women and girls learning different vocational skills including Entrepreneurship development and market access. The visiting team commended IDS Board, management and staff efforts for the poverty alleviation initiatives most especially as it addresses the plights faced by vulnerable groups in the society.
Visiting USA Delegation Admire the Art of Hat making at IDS Skills Acquisition Center
Some of the IDS vocational skills equipment acquired with US Ambassador SSH Project Abuja and African Women Development Fund(AWDF) Ghana Grants
IDS Beneficiaries with Karen Mehring, SSH Coordinator US Embassy Abuja at the Commissioning of Skills Acquisition Center
Is there a skill for carpentering and furniture program??
Is IDS only for female? Is there no room for male? Is there a skill for carpentering and furniture program??