Engage Now Africa constructs 10-unit block for Navrongo Vocational Centre

Engage Now Africa has officially commenced the construction of a new 10-unit classroom block at the Navrongo Vocational Training Centre, also known as the Technology Solutions Centre. The project, funded by the ASEA Advancing Life Foundation, aims to provide a modern learning environment for students currently grappling with a severe lack of basic facilities. The construction is expected to be completed within eight months, offering a significant reprieve for the institution in the Upper East Region.

The intervention comes at a critical time for the training centre, where students are living under distressing conditions. Current infrastructure is woefully inadequate, with overcrowded dormitories that suffer from leaking roofs, forcing many students to sleep on the floor. The school also faces a dire sanitation crisis; a lack of toilet facilities has led to rampant open defecation, while female students must contend with makeshift bathrooms that offer little to no privacy. Furthermore, many classrooms are currently devoid of furniture, making effective teaching and learning nearly impossible.

Cecilia Amankwah, the Country Director of Engage Now Africa, emphasized the organization's commitment to improving the welfare of students during the groundbreaking ceremony. She noted that this project follows a previous intervention where the NGO provided a mechanized borehole to the school to alleviate water scarcity. The new classroom block is designed to alleviate the pressure on existing structures and create a more conducive atmosphere for vocational skills acquisition.

Local leadership has welcomed the initiative as a transformative step for the community. The Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central, Simon Aworigo, and the Paramount Chief of the Navrongo Traditional Area, Pe Aneakwoa Balinia Adda Asagpaare III, both expressed gratitude for the partnership. However, they acknowledged that while the classroom block is a vital addition, more support is needed from other stakeholders to address the remaining deficiencies in dormitory housing and sanitation infrastructure.