Tobinco Foundation organises training for widows, unemployed
The Tobinco Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has organised a two-day training programme for widows and unemployed women to develop their capacity and entrepreneurial skills.
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The training programme, attended by over 200 widows, also focused on how beneficiaries were expected to efficiently use monthly allowances provided them under the foundation. Facilitators and gender activists from the media and academia also educated the participants on the various economic opportunities that existed for them.
A total of GH¢7,500 was presented to some of the participants who were suffering from various ailments for their medical treatment.
The Tobinco Foundation is a subsidiary of the Tobinco Group of Companies, under the Chairmanship of Mr Samuel Amo Tobin, who is also the Executive Chairman of the Tobinco Pharmaceuticals Limited.
‘Widows are not helpless’
Addressing participants in the opening ceremony, a representative of the Tobin Family, Mrs Mary Tobin Osei, stated that widows would not be helpless if they were constantly given the needed assistance and support on how they could lead independent lives.
That, she said, informed the decision of the foundation for the workshop, adding, “We expect participants to put to use whatever they have learnt.”
The Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs Millicent Akoto, challenged the participants to not look down on themselves.
According to her, the time has come for widows to take up the challenge when they lose their spouses.
She also urged them to put the financial support they were given monthly to good use and avoid depending solely on society for their needs.
Need to build partnership
The General Co-ordinator of the Communication for Development and Advocacy (CDA) Consultancy (a gender activist group), Mr Francis Ameyibor, called on women, especially widows, to build sustainable partnerships that would go a long way to reduce the burden on them.
He specifically mentioned the Livelihood Empowerment for Widows (LEW) programme championed by the foundation, saying it gave widows equal access to economic resources and opportunities by strengthening their economic capacities.
Dr Yaa Adodea from the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), who was one of the facilitators, advised participants to uphold healthy lifestyles.
