The two apprentice seamstress who lost their sewing machines in last year’ Mallam Market fire but received donations from benevolent readers of Myjoyonline.com which enabled them to continue with their apprenticeship have completed their training.

[Alima and Nafisa carry their machines]

They passed out at a short ceremony in Accra.

[Alima shows her certificate.]

They were presented with certificates by their trainer, Mrs Joyce Adonteng, Proprietor of  Oswel Fashions at the passing out ceremony attended by family members and friends. The event also served as a sendoff party for Alima who said she was going back to the rural village of Jefisi in the Upper West region to train other young girls.

[Sarah Quarcoopome,(left) Project coordinator of Values Driven Nation presents two sewing machinest Alima and Nafisa.]

Myjoyonline.com published a story last year highlighting the plight of Alima, a Kayayei girl and her sister who lost their sewing machines in a fire disaster at Mallam Market. She had saved out of the little money she earned from longhours of carrying heavy loads and traipsing through the crowded, garbage-strewn central business district of Accra to raise money to by sewing machine to learn a trade. But the machine was consumed by the fire.

[Alima receives her certificate from her Madam Joyce Adonteng.]

The story attracted the sympathy of the International Women’s Fair, which donated two sewing machines to the victims, and - Nii Lartey Lartey of Vodafone, who donated some money to Alima.

[Visibly elated Alima and Nafisa shows their certificate.]

With this support, the two girls were able to continue with the training course culminating in Saturday’s passing out ceremony.

[Alima and Nafisa with  their family posed for the camera after the graduation ceremony.]

[Madam Joyce Adonteng  pouring powder on them to signify the end of their apprenticeship.]

A visibly elated Alima Dramani thanked the Multimedia Group, International Women’s Fair and all those who donated to help her complete her training for making her dreams come true.

[Alima and Nafisa with their Aunte, Mad. Fati,(right) and Mad. Joyce]

[Alima and Nafisa]

Alima told myjoyline .com that she was leaving Accra for the north where she believes her skills will help better the lot of other underprivileged young girls.

[Nafisa receives her certificate.]

She hopes to set up a training centre in her village at Jefisi for this purpose.

[Alima before and after incident]

[LAST YEAR: Alima in tears after loosing her sewing machine during the incident]

To achieve her dreams Alima needs a standard shop with a few more sewing machines but she realizes she faces daunting task because raising the funds to set her training centre.

[She is hopeful that benevolent organizations and individuals will help to realize that dream, too.]

Mrs Joyce Adonteng, prayed that Alima would secure the needed funding to set up her training centre.

She praise Alima and Nafisa for their dedication and humility which she said helped them to get out of the unfortunate situation occasioned by the fire disaster.

[David Andoh takes a shot with Nafisa and Alima after the ceremony.]

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