The Youth and Women Development Association for Social Transformation YOWDAST is an organization that is cosmopolitan and devoid of any religious, tribal and political affiliation. The organization was established in 1996 and had it’s 20th graduation, graduating 120 trainees in different professions today and more than five thousand beneficaries since inception. It is a known fact that poverty has been a serious menace in Nigeria, most of African Countries and the Third World Countries around the the globe. It is against this background that YOWDAS was established to alleviate poverty and over dependency through the provision of profitable trades/skills to young men and women within Ganye Chiefdom which comprises of Ganye Jada and Toungo Local Governments, and now the tentacles is gradually spreading to Mayo Belwa Local Government.
The General Secretary of YOWDAST, Hon. Matthias Titus Tola in his speech delivered on the graduation of YOWDAST trainee emphasized that redundancy is a tomentor that must be examined in our society, this task cannot be left in the hands of government alone, but the Civil Society Organizations, Non Governmental Organizations and Faith Based Organizations must join hands together to compliment government effort in the fight against over dependency and unemployment, this is what YOWDAST is doing through its Open Apprenticeship Scheme Training of our teaming youths and women.
The General Secretary is appealing for financial support from all and sundry. According to him, this project is possible because some people somewhere were able to sacrifice one of their meals so that they can collect funds needed for putting smiles in many faces that were despaired. If people far away from us can do this so that we can live a meaningful life, why can’t we emulate them?
Some of the previous beneficiaries of the empowerment scheme Mr. Bagunu who is a successful electrician has narrated how YOWDAST transformed his life positively, he urged the younger generation to engaged in hand work instead of roaming about the street causing trouble and engaging in an unhealthy businesses that is detrimental to their lives and future. Another beneficiary has professed that YOWDAST has given him hope when he was at the verge giving up, he testified that today he had trained more than 15 people under him.
The representative of HRH Alh. Dr Umaru Adamu Sanda OON FIAMN the Gangwari Ganye, Hon. David Saraso who is also the Chairman Board of Trustees YOWDAST has reiterated that skills and hand work remains a formidable force for fight against unemployment and other social vices in the society, he called upon youths and women to embrace this movement for advancement of peace, unity and security of the Chiefdom.
PIONEER NEWS 