The SOS village in Tamale, under its Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) has trained 98 artisans and equipped them with the necessary tools to help break the cycle of poverty.

The FSP is working with vulnerable families in some communities and intervenes to help those with children who are at risk of losing parental care and other vulnerable ones, by giving them training that would empower them economically.

Mr Joseph Agoona, Project Coordinator of FSP, who made this known at a graduation ceremony for the artisans who undertook six-months training on various employable skills in Tamale, said the SOS would continue to provide support to needy children and their parents.

He said The Netherlands sponsored project had four areas under which the FSP are being carried out, which included Child Protection, Provision of Social Services, Economic Empowerment and Community Development.

The training comprised carpentry, tailoring, dressmaking, driving and masonry. The beneficiaries took away tools that would help them setup their businesses while a start up capital would also be provided to them to ensure that they are not out of business.

Mr Agoona said apart from helping orphans to go through formal education, SOS is also providing other services such as economic empowerment to vulnerable groups and parents of under privileged children to ensure that poverty is reduced to  the barest minimum.

He said 65 females and 33 males benefitted from the training and gave the assurance that SOS under its FSP would continue to contribute its quota towards fighting poverty.

Mr Agoona said apart from the training, mothers of vulnerable children were supported and put into income generating activity groups to identify trades that would enable them take care of their children and to give them the necessary support while 720 farmers also received support from the SOS as means of addressing poverty.

Mr Alhassan Imoro, Assembly Member for Sagnerigu/Duu expressed the need for employable skills training and advised the beneficiaries to ensure that they use the experience gain to liberate themselves economically.

He said it is important for beneficiaries of the programme to become self-reliant to ensure that they are able to support their families to break the cycle of poverty in their communities.

GNA