Saanema Institute offers free vocational training to combat youth unemployment
The initiative, which is already gaining attention across the Upper East Region, is designed to empower the next generation with practical skills that promote creativity, sustainability, and economic self-reliance.
In a bold step towards tackling youth unemployment and environmental degradation, the Saanema Institute of Creativity, based in Anaatem in the Bolgatanga Municipality, is offering free vocational and entrepreneurial training to Ghanaians, with a particular focus on youth and women from rural and underserved communities.
The initiative, which is already gaining attention across the Upper East Region, is designed to empower the next generation with practical skills that promote creativity, sustainability, and economic self-reliance.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, the Proprietress of the Institute, Sophia Yuorpore, stated that the mission of the Institute is to nurture local innovation and support the development of environmentally conscious entrepreneurs.
“Creativity is the key to Africa’s prosperity, so our institution places practicality above theory to ensure our students are empowered to make Upper East and Africa great,” Yuorpore stated.
The Saanema Institute offers training in a wide variety of disciplines including fashion design, craft making, organic farming, waste recycling, and eco-friendly product development. These skill areas are chosen to align with both entrepreneurial potential and sustainable development goals.
Unlike many vocational centres, the Institute has introduced a unique model where students are able to earn an income while they are still in training.
“Once you are undergoing the training, you earn from the products you produce from the practical work. So, by the time you complete, you will have some capital to begin your business.” ,” Yuorpore explained
Musah Kenneth, Patron of the Institute, emphasized the importance of financial literacy in the Institute’s curriculum. He said students are taught how to manage their finances, save money, and keep proper records; skills essential for sustaining any business venture.
“We also teach students the culture of saving and bookkeeping to ensure that when they seek funding, they will stand a chance. We also train them on how to find and target markets to buy the things they are producing,” Kenneth noted.
He stressed that the broader goal of the Institute is to reduce over-reliance on the formal job market and encourage community-based entrepreneurship. “The opportunity this training provides is to equip students with self-employment skills, skills that do not need a third party to employ you. When you have a skill set, nobody can take that away from you. We are empowering them to become giant slayers of the market.”
Admission to the Saanema Institute of Creativity is currently open and free of charge. Students are only required to cover the cost of training materials. The programme prioritizes youth and women, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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