Nkwanta (V/R), Dec. 24, GNA - A total of 120 women from different backgrounds and tribes in the Nkwanta District are undergoing training in various skills to help improve livelihoods in the area. Marie Schlei Association, a German non-governmental organization is sponsoring the training, which is three months for each group. The women, in four groups picked from the Basari, Adele and Akyode tribes and the Christian Light Church at Nkwanta are learning bakery, soap, powder and pomade making.

Mr Mawuena Damson, Project Director of Women and Youth Survival Foundation, the local NGO implementing the 20,000 Euro programme, said each participant would attend a business management-training workshop in January next year to prepare towards starting their own ventures. He said under the programme participants would receive loans as start-up capital.

Mr Damson said the German NGO last year provided GH=A28,700 for 100 women in vegetable production and to shore up their business provided a solar pepper drier at the cost of GH=A25,600 in the area. Professor Dr Christa Randzio-Plath, President of the German NGO told a group of trainees that, "gender equality and promotion of women are the challenges of this millennium". She said her association demonstrated "solidarity with activities of women in Africa, Asia and Latin America by giving financial support to self-help activities directed towards enhancing education and livelihood of women".

Professor Dr Randzio-Plath said the association was cooperating with women in 300 projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America.