Hyundai Motor Company, along with KOICA and PLAN Korea, will set up technical training centre for automobile repair in different countries in Africa. The project has been launched to help the youth of the under-developed areas of the African countries so that they can support themselves. The auto repair skills learnt at the centre would help fight the problem of youth unemployment.
The first training centre will be launched in Ghana, followed by establishment of these centres in different African countries. Along with Africa, this continuous cycle of construction of automobile repair training centres is also proposed by Hyundai for Asia.
The repair training school built in Koforidua, Ghana will be known as the Hyundai-KOICA Dream Centre. Commencing in September 2012, the three-year program will admit around 300 students. Everything, from remuneration of teachers to developing curriculum, will be managed by Hyundai. The company plans to offer jobs at the Hyundai Service Centres to students with exceptional academic records.
According to the Ghana Statistics Service 2006 Report, around 250,000 young individuals enter the labour market on an annual basis. These young individuals have varied academic background, varying from junior high dropouts to university graduates. Amongst youth population, only 2 percent or less than 5000 youth of Ghana secure traditional employment, while the majority remains unemployed or secure unstable employment.
The reason behind youth unemployment is the absence of employable skills, which is the main requirement of the job market. Moreover, majority of the educational training curricula does not hold much value in the job market at present. The Hyundai-KOICA project as such has been developed to offer employable skills to the youth, which would help them secure job and overcome problem of unemployment.
The support programs and goals of the Hyundai-KOICA project are:
- Establishing technical training centre and supporting equipment for automobile repair training.
- Hiring and educating youth to be technically-sound auto mechanics.
- Improving the skill set of existing auto mechanics.
- Developing skilled and literate mechanics.
- Facilitating youth empowerment for self-reliant poverty reduction.
- Reinforcing Hyundai/Korean and Ghanaian technical and cultural cooperation with the help of social contribution expertise of Hyundai.The opening ceremony of the
automobile repair training schools was held in Ghana on January 30, 2012 at the GRATIS Foundation premises, Koforidua. The ground breaking ceremony was attended by renowned dignitaries, such as H.E Kyun Jea-Min, Ambassador of Korea; Dr. Kwasi Akyem Appiah-Kubi, The Eastern Regional Minister and Kim So Young, Resident Representative of KOICA. Lee Jang Ho, African Regional Headquarters Representative of Hyundai Motor Company; Emmunuel Asiedu, Executive Director of GRATIS; Lee Sang Joo, National Director of Plan Korea and Prem Shukla, Country Director of Plan Ghana also graced the event.
Hyundai’s three partners, KOICA, Plan and GRATIS Foundation, are renowned names in their respective domains. KOICA, Korean International Cooperation Agency, is a government agency established in the year 1991. It was set up to improve the effectiveness of the grant aid programs of the Korean government for developing countries. This was achieved by proper implementation of the grant aid and technical cooperation program of the government. Over the years, the focus has broadened and now incorporates other aspects as well, such as encouraging sustainable development and improving the local ownership of beneficiaries. In addition, the focus is also on reinforcing partnerships with developing associates.
The other partner, Plan is an international child-centered community development organisation. The organisation works towards human development and primarily aims to promote the rights of children. Its vision is of a world where children can realise their true potential in communities that value human rights and dignity.
The third partner, GRATIS Foundation evolved from the Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology Industrial Service (GRATIS) Project. This project was set up in Ghana in 1987 by the government for encouraging small scale industrialisation in the country.
Hyundai Motor Company was established in 1967 and over the years, it has grown into the globally renowned Hyundai Motor Group. The group proudly owns over two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and associates. Outside South Korea, it has manufacturing units in six countries, namely U.S., China, India, Russia, Turkey and the Czech Republic. In the year 2011, Hyundai Motor sold around 4.06 million vehicles across the world. With the assistance of over 80,000 employees, the company offers a comprehensive range of products, varying from small and large passenger vehicles, SUVs to commercial vehicles.
