Elman Peace and Development
Monday, July 25, 2016
Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre held a graduation ceremony in Afgoye, Lower-Shabelle today from the Vocational Training Institute.
150 Youth who learned skills such as Electrical Installation, Mobile Phone Repair, Auto-Mechanic, Plumbing, and Computer Technology and Office Administration finished a 9 month intensive course which includes theory and practical training in the center and real-life work experience in the community.
The youth all received toolkits to help them enter the workforce; including brand new laptops, Mobile Repair kits and the tools need to start-up in each trade. 75 Youth have already secured jobs in Afgoye and other regions of Somalia.
Members of the community present at the event talked about the impact of the Elman Vocational Training Center in the region.
“Before we used to have to travel to Mogadishu to get our mobile phones repaired, now the students of the center fix them and there are many options of where you can get the service.”
Students come to the center to learn for free and receive 1 dollar a day for transportation and food while they are in the center. Some come from as far as 25KM outside of Afgoye to benefit from the opportunity.
The vocational training is part of the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre’s mission to empower the most vulnerable demographic of the community. 70% of the population in Somalia is under the age of 30 and by teaching skills for economic empowerment to youth, the organization believes it can contribute to peace and stability in Somalia.
Fartuun Adan, Executive Director of the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre, “Youth are not the problem for the instability and insecurity in Somalia. They are the tools that have been used for their entire lives. If we want to create lasting peace in Somalia, we have to give youth an alternative to violence. Its not enough to just say drop the gun pick up the pen if you do not give them an option that will give them a clear direction in their life. This is what we try to provide.”
The management of Job Key university who was also present at the event, expressed the importance of vocational skills training but also the importance of higher education. Job Key University said it will commit to helping the youth in Afgoye in the same way Elman Peace and Human Rights Center does by providing free tuition to all graduates from Elman Peace training centres in Afgoye