PfC’s goal is economical independence for women. Together with our partner Good Samaritan Training Center, we offer vocational training to poor young women.
In order for the educated candidates to be offered a job, the education must be relevant and be of high quality. GSTC is among the foremost in meeting these criteria. They offer six months of vocational training in house keeping, cooking and catering, hairdresser and make up, as well as textiles and sewing. In Ethiopia, all candidates in vocational education must take a national exam. On a national basis, 25% passes the exam. At GSTC, all candidates have passed this exam in the last four years. As a result of this, GSTC has been approved as a Center of Excellence, which means that they are one of the few exam centers in the country.
In 2020, several of the activities were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and GSTC only completed one batch of vocational training courses. These were scheduled to graduate in March 2020, but were forced to postpone education as the vocational schools were closed. When the schools started up again in the autumn, the 88 students completed the courses; 35 in chef / catering, 23 in textiles and sewing and 30 hairdressers / make-up. In the last months of 2020, students have taken vocational exams. Everyone passed and is ready for working life. Five of the seamstresses have already found work in a textile factory.
A graduation ceremony was held on March 3, 2021 where, among others, the State Minister of Women, Children and Youth and a representative from PfC were present.
Two of the girl’s stories:
Woinishet Abayneh completed vocational training in sewing at GSTC in 2020. To maintain her skills, she received a refresher course while the center was closed during corona restrictions. She passed the vocational exam this autumn. Woinishet has previously worked with leather products on a small scale from home, and the training she received at GSTC increased her motivation and self-confidence in this sector. Due to her interest in leather products and newly acquired sewing skills, she got a job at Ramsay Shoe Company, and receives a salary of 2,500 ETB to cover her monthly expenses. She is very happy and grateful for the opportunities the training at GSTC has given her.
Bilen Lemma is another newly trained seamstress who has managed to take advantage of the opportunities this training has given her. She was an avid student who quickly absorbed what the teachers taught her. Her education was also interrupted by the pandemic, and she was afraid she would forget what she had learned. After a refresher course, she felt ready to apply for a trainee position at a textile factory called Yigalem Garment and completed a successful internship. After being trainee for some time, she was offered a permanent job and now earns 2,500 ETB a month. Bilen expressed joy and gratitude for the opportunities she and her friends have been given through the program of GSTC and PfC.
