The Sierra Leone Adult Education (SLADEA) has established a tuition free Ceramic Skills Training Center, at the Lettie Stuart Pottery Ceramic Center at Campbell Town in Waterloo. This was actualized with support from the German Protestants Church and EED to empower Sierra Leoneans youths to acquire income generating skills in ceramic production.
Three German professionals on clay production have recently completed three weeks of intensive training for youths, who were drawn from the Western Area and its environs. These were provided with adequate skills and expertise to manufacture all types of ceramic productions which would be of use.
The training program provides trainees with knowledge on the production of clay pots, cylinders, ash trays, candle stands, flower vase, bowls, plates, cups and other house hold and kitchen utensils.
The youths are also trained on throwing on the wheel, isolation bricks, kiln building, firing, and non-violent communication and peace building programs which would help the trainees reintegrate in their respective communities with a skill to sustain them and their families, as raw materials are affordable any time and everywhere in the country.
One of the trainees, Idrissa Momoh, said that the training is free and raw materials are available which makes it easier to do the work; pointing out that the skills would enable youths to manufacture products which would be sold in the market for income generation.
He added that the training requires a three years course in ceramic production at which youths would have been trained and equipped with the knowledge and expertise to run a small scale ceramic center at community level, to enable them contribute to national development.
He called on colleagues to take advantage of the available opportunities at the Ceramic Center to enroll so as to acquire skills to build the middle level man power development and become self reliant for sustainable development.
Another trainee, Mabinty Kalawa, spoke about the usefulness of the training as she could now manufacture various household utensils from clay. She promised to utilize the knowledge gained at the Center to train others who are unskilled.
The Coordinator and Manager of the Ceramic Center, Erika Buttner said, the trainees are interested in the skills as it is the only institution of learning which focus on ceramic production in the Country. She made reference to the materials used at the Training Center which she said, are locally made and produced; citing fire wood, primary and secondary clay which would help both the trainees and instructors in the training.