London Mining Company in collaboration with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and St. Joseph Vocational Training Institute on 19 September officially launched the “From Mines to Minds” Project at the Peace Hall at St. Joseph Institute in Lunsar. The “From Mines to Minds” Project is a vocational and technical skills training programme funded by London Mining and GIZ and implemented by the St. Joseph Institute.
The launching ceremony was attended by more than 300 students of the St. Joseph Institute, officials of the ministry of education and local government, the paramount chief of Marampa chiefdom, chiefdom authorities, DFID, National Minerals Agency and other dignitaries.
In a statement at the ceremony, London Mining’s Human Resource Manager, Mr. Denis Donkin, said that the launching of the project was a clear demonstration of London Mining’s commitment to the local content strategy and contribution to the Agenda for Prosperity of the Government of Sierra Leone by increasing the pool of qualified labour for both mining and other sectors.
“Through this project, the population of Lunsar and more than 300 students will have access to a refurbished vocational institute and new equipment. We have modernised curriculum and training in the vocational trades of fabrication, welding, carpentry, joinery, building and construction and motor mechanics,” he said.
Mr Donkin added that the project will improve the employment rate of St. Joseph’s graduates from 40% to 55% and through the functional adult literacy programme 400 adults have access to new opportunities, 30% of whom will be women.
“We are offering Sierra Leonean’s new opportunities and under this innovative private and public partnership, we are leveraging the experience and knowledge of each partner and ensuring that skills from graduates from St. Joseph will meet the needs of the private sector,” he concluded.
In her remarks, the Country Director of GIZ said that the skills training programmes at the Institute will target employees of London Mining, young people, students, graduates, the self-employed and job seekers. Applicants with previous work experience in their chosen training field were given priority, along with women and youths from the villages around London Mining’s operations. She sees the partnership with London Mining as a contribution to securing a sustainable and prosperous relationship with the local communities.
London Mining and GIZ early this year signed a cooperation agreement to jointly provide EUR 470,000 (US $274,390) to fund skills training programmes aimed at improving the employability of the local community in the mining district of Port Loko.
Comments