Improving livelihoods: Afghan refugees receive skill training certificates

Non-profit organisation helps impart employable skills to urban-based refugees.

PESHAWAR:

Eighteen-year-old Anna Ahmadzai is one of 1,700 young Afghans residing in Pakistan who have completed skill development courses to become a reliable source of income for their families.

The Skills Training and Income Generation Project for Urban Afghan Refugees is a project of the Hashoo Foundation (HF), a non-profit organisation, which trains young Afghans living as refugees to provide them with necessary skills to make a living.

HF conducted an award distribution ceremony for the graduating trainees on Wednesday at a local hotel where graduates received their certificates, approved by the Skill Development Council. The event celebrated efforts of high achievers and acknowledged the foundation’s role in uplifting living standards of marginalised Afghan refugees with the financial support of the US government.



Hailing from Logar province of Afghanistan, Anna’s family has been living in Board Bazaar, Peshawar for the past 20 years.

Anna, whose father works as a labourer, passed her matric examinations with flying colours with the help of her aunt who lives abroad. She then joined and completed a computer training course at an institute run by HF and now works as a computer operator at a private clinic, earning a steady income of Rs10,000 per month.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Anna said she has four sisters and two brothers and is the only source of income for her family as her father is now aged and rarely finds work. She thanked HF for its support and encouragement in helping her stand on her own feet.

“First we used to live in our relative’s house but now we have rented a place thanks to my new job,” she said.

Another person who received training as a mechanic under the project now has his own shop and employs five workers.

Hamidullah Khan, an Afghan residing in Peshawar, said he was very happy that he got the necessary skills to start his own business.

Talking to The Express Tribune, HF Country Director Ali Akbar lauded efforts of his team, which facilitated the improvement of livelihoods and greater economic security within the Afghan refugee community.

“There is a great deal of talent among Afghan refugees, however, they require the right opportunity to demonstrate this talent,” he said.

He explained the said project was launched in July 2010 and aims to improve livelihoods of vulnerable, urban-based Afghan refugees residing in Peshawar, Attock, Rawalpindi and Islamabad by imparting employable skills and facilitating job placement. The project provides a comprehensive six-month training course that combines theory with on-the-job training. Trainees can choose nine different professions, from becoming a beautician to an electrician.

Akbar said the foundation also focuses on the needs of special children and provides care and support services to the less privileged and vulnerable sections of society.

On the occasion, a large number of Afghan refugees who had finished training participated in various musical performances while the event also featured stalls of handmade traditional clothes and craft. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2014.