16 August 2012

CDA Holds Its First Graduation Ceremony

On 3rd August 2012, Community Development Alliance held its first graduation ceremony. From the time the school was started way back with Agwara Machine, 30 students have already completed their course of study in Carpentry and joinery and Tailoring. In this graduation however 8 students who recently completed received their Certificates in a ceremony that was attended by Chief of Anghal who was the Chief Guest, the team from Canada, community leaders, business community, members of CDA, community members etc. Here Asumani the volunteer teacher for tailoring receives a Certificate of recognition
Mama Mado the Chairperson of CDA opened the function with the word of welcome and introduction. She expressed her disappointment to women out of whom none is graduating despite her being the chairperson of the organization that is running the school. She encouraged everyone who attended the ceremony to go back as spread the news of what CDA is doing and persuade many people to join the school especially women. She further noted that women have always remain behind in all sectors, “this is the time that we need to come up and affirm our presence in the community” she states. As she concluded, Mama Mado conveyed with grief and agony the loss of four members of CDA within this year 2012, these include Acor Meka, Deo and Jeanette () she asked the congregation to stand up for a moment of silence to remember and pray for their souls. In the photo below Mama Mado giving her speech during the graduation
Vincent in his speech started by appreciating those who have tirelessly dedicated their time and resources towards the organization and the school, on that note, he particularly appreciated the volunteer teachers who have altruistically given their time to pass on their knowledge and skills to the learners more over on voluntary basis. He encouraged everyone to have that kind of heart if the community is to develop. He added that people should be aware that CDA as well as RAS are still very small organizations without any stable source of funds like other dig organizations so the expectation of the community should not be like they are working with big/reach organization, he urged the community to avoid looking at hand giving as being development, actually hand giving creates a breeding ground for poverty. With CDA/RAS we wish to build community strengths, change people’s attitude, encourage participation, expose the community, this does not only mean increase in income but also our social life and the way we can manipulate the environment sustainably. This kind of celebration which is the first of its kind in this community should open our eyes and the next time we are having the same, there should be even a bigger number of students, I will be even happier if the number of female over weighs the number of male. A group photo at the CDA school
The Student representative Watumbe Puceng expressed his gratitude for the great work that CDA has done, is still doing and will continue doing for the good of the community. He said that when they first started studying most people thought they were playing around and often laughed at them, but for them they meant what they were doing and they kept to their target but now they are enjoying the fruits of the training. He proudly said, they are among the first people to test the fruit of CDA and they feel good about it. He thus urged all the young people who do not have vocational skills to join the training; he expressed his sadness about the women who joined with them but did not complete, he also encouraged them to resume and others who have not joined to as well join as it is for their own benefit. Crystal on behalf of Reach Architecture Studios encouraged the students to employ the skills learnt to improve on the economic status of themselves, the community of Anghal, Mahagi, and the DRC by passing on the knowledge they have learnt to other members of the community.

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