Society
Of The Divine Word

The Centre, established by the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), aims to equip the youth of Northern Ghana with practical vocational and entrepreneurial skills that promote self-reliance and holistic human development. This maiden graduation was therefore a significant milestone in the Centre’s mission of empowering young people for a brighter future.

Giving the history of the Centre, Fr. Phanuel Agudu, SVD, explained that the Divine Word Youth Training Centre was established together with the Common Formation Centre with the aim of equipping young missionaries with practical skills for the mission. He added that the initiative was later extended to the wider community by Br. Franz Schneider, SVD, thereby opening the doors for local youth to benefit from training that transforms lives and fosters development.

Fr. Agudu further noted that although the project was first established in 1996, it unfortunately died off at some point. However, in 2019, with the support of Fr. Cyprian Kuupol, SVD, who was then Rector of the Common Formation Centre, and with funding from the Hand-in-Hand Friends for Ghana and SVD Mission Procure, St. Augustin, Germany, the project was revived and given a new lease of life. He also expressed sincere gratitude to Fr. Benjamin Asare, SVD, Br. Paul Tawiah and Fr. Abraham Kposu, SVD, for their immense contributions and commitment to the realization of the project.

In his address, Fr. Cyprian Kuupol, SVD, Provincial Superior of the Ghana–Liberia Province, congratulated Fr. Phanuel Agudu for his dedication to the project, noting that he was the one who developed the project concept and presented it to the donors. He thanked the donors especially Mr. Bruno Panglisch for their confidence and generosity in supporting the Centre.

Fr. Kuupol also reminded the seminarians of the Common Formation Centre (CFC) that the Training Centre is not only for the wider community but also for them. He stressed that its purpose is to complement the spiritual formation they receive at the CFC with practical skills that will be valuable in their future missionary work. He encouraged the formators to assign seminarians to the Centre regularly, so they may benefit from the training.

Looking to the future, Fr. Kuupol announced plans to introduce solar panel installation and training in solar energy as well as driving as part of the Centre’s programs. He also made a heartfelt appeal to parents, clarifying that the Centre is not intended to convert people to Catholicism, but rather to help young people gain skills that will transform their lives and benefit society.

Fr. Kuupol further congratulated the graduates, urging them to be transparent, sincere, and accountable in the use of the skills they have acquired. He encouraged them to put their knowledge to service with honesty and to extend a helping hand to others so that more young people can rise to their level. He then thanked the trainers and instructors of the graduates, for their selfless dedication to their work highlighting their sacrifice to the centre. “These trainers accepted to train these young people without any salary, if not for their sacrifice this project would have suffered a huge setback” he said.

Also present were the Honourable Assembly Members of the area, including Hon. James, Assembly Member for the Gumo community, and Hon. Bibiana, Assembly Member for the Malishegu community. Hon. James congratulated the graduates and encouraged the youth to take advantage of this initiative, while Hon. Bibiana praised the SVD for their contribution to community development and urged the graduates to use their skills for the common good, cautioning the youth against the lure of “quick money.”

Adding his voice to the occasion, Dr. Brace Freeman from the Holy Trinity Theological Seminary in Accra encouraged all present to see this Centre as an opportunity to build both the community and the city of Tamale through skills, knowledge, and service.

A key highlight of the program was the presentation of certificates and start-up tools to the graduates, to enable them to establish their own businesses. These items were presented by the Director of the Centre, assisted by Fr. Cyprian Kuupol, Hon. Bibiana, Madam Paulina, and Sr. Pascalina, SSpS. The gesture was warmly received and underscored the Centre’s mission of not only training but also empowering the youth for self-reliance.

The chairperson for the occasion, Fr. Samuel Adu, SVD, Director of the Tamale Institute of Cross-Cultural Studies (TICCS), in his closing remarks, reminded the gathering that the missionaries who established the Centre were not only concerned with spreading the Word of God, but also with giving the people a livelihood. He sincerely thanked them for their vision and asked for continued prayers for their mission. He also stressed that discipline should be the hallmark of the graduates, encouraging them to carry it into their work and daily lives.

The graduates, trained in carpentry, proudly displayed their work to the admiration of family, friends, and invited guests. Their confidence and skills were a testimony to the dedication of their instructors and the vision of the Centre.

As the first cohort leaves the Centre, they carry with them not only new skills but also the values of hard work, integrity, and service. The Divine Word Youth Training Centre in Tamale has laid a strong foundation, and the future looks promising for the many more young men and women who will follow in their footsteps.