PESHAWAR (SW): The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) in Pakistan have launched a skills development program to empower Afghan refugee youth.
The pilot project costing Rs 30 million will train over 700 young people over the next three months in various trades and professions at technical and vocational centers in refugee-populated districts of the country. Vocational trainings include courses for beauticians, tailors, plumbers, electricians, stone masons and fridge, mobile phone, solar panel repair technicians etc.
The participants of these three-month training courses will receive a small monthly stipend as well as the tools of their chosen trade helping them to establish an immediate source of income after completion of their training. After a review later this year, the program aims to roll-out on a longer-term basis
Dunya Aslam, UNHCR spokesperson in Pakistan, said at least 64 percent of the refugees in Pakistan are young Afghans. She said the vocational training can ensure better prospects for them in getting jobs. Neek Mohammad, an Afghan refugee, told Salam Watandar he was quite content with this project.
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