MCFSP Launches 2019 Summer Camp At KNUST

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (MCFSP) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has launched its annual summer camp as part of its Vacation Enrichment Programmes.

This years Summer Camp, which is being held from the 27th of May to 1st June, 2019 is on the theme: ‘Empowering Scholars Through Skills Training for Community Development’.

According to the Program Manager, Ms. Afia Ampomah Awuah, the exercise which started in 2014 has the objective of equipping scholars with soft skills to enable them stand out in the world. Ms. Ampomah Awuah added that the camp provides scholars the opportunity to simulate the entrepreneurial potentials to benefit their communities.

In his keynote address, Deputy Registrar of the College of Science, KNUST, Mr. Vincent Ankamah-Lomotey, said Ghanaian public and private universities produce a minimum of 20,000 graduates for the job market annually. He noted that out of this number an average of 6,000 are KNUST graduates who also compete for the same jobs.

He encouraged the scholars to make use of this training as resource persons and all activities are designed to equip them with entrepreneurial and other skills to help distinguish them from others on the job market.

Mr. Lomotey noted that the Scholars should imbibe whatever they learn at the Summer Camp to help realise the goal of the organisers as well as the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

The Vice-Dean of Students, KNUST, Dr. Otchere Addai-Mensah, said the MCF Secretariat and by extension, the Office of the Dean of Students recognises the need for skills training in the total development of the student. He therefore used the opportunity to advise the Scholars to make use of the opportunity of the Camp and as Scholars of the MCFSP at KNUST to better their lives and communities.

Dr. Addai-Mensah however cautioned them against any acts of indiscipline and flouting the rules of the University as management will not hesitate to apply the necessary sanctions to such culprits. He also encouraged the Scholars to visit his outfit and other allied offices whenever they encounter any challenges.

Participants at this year’s Sumer Camp would be trained in satellite installations, swimming, bead making, Adobe photoshop etc.

The scholars will also be exposed to first aid administration, personality counselling, individual/community-based projects (ICBP), ethics and social responsibility and introduction to final year project seminars. Other activities for the Camp include creative arts, movie night and a fun trip to some centres of cultural and national heritage.