Give back their dignity

Executive Summary: 

The Leni Keller Skill acquisition Center embarked on a mission to empower and uplift the lives of 54 young refugees through vocational training. The project focused on equipping participants with valuable skills in tailoring, millinery, hair making, and wigging, alongside imparting essential marketing skills. Besides the trainees also received mental health support to help them give them the necessary stability. The goal is to enable these young people to become self-sustaining, contributing members of society. The project successfully trained 54 refugees, with many of them already generating income from their newly acquired skills. However, there is still room for further support to enhance their economic stability.

Project Objectives:

• To provide vocational training to 54 refugee youth in tailoring, millinery, hair making, and wigging.
• To teach marketing skills to enable trainees to establish and promote their businesses.

• To facilitate the economic self-sufficiency of the trainees and their reintegration into society.
• Provide psycho-social support. 

Training Activities: 

The Leni Skill acquisition center executes the following key activities:

• Skill Training: The participants are receiving intensive training in tailoring, millinery, hair making, and wigging. The training curriculum included practical skills, theoretical knowledge, and hands-on experience.
• Marketing Skills: In addition to technical skills, trainees are educated in marketing techniques, enabling them to create and manage their own businesses successfully.
• Mentorship: Experienced professionals in the respective fields provide mentorship to the trainees, helping them refine their skills and business acumen.
• Resource Support: Participants will receive essential tools and materials required for their trade.

Achievements:

• Skill Acquisition: All 54 trainees stayed in the program and are gaining competence in their chosen fields.
• Business Start-ups: Many trainees will be ready by December 2023 to launch small scale businesses.
• Community Integration: The program facilitated the reintegration of refugees into the local community, promoting social cohesion and understanding.

Challenges Faced:

• Due to increase in fuel price most of the trainees had difficulties coming regularly to training sessions

Future Plans: 

While the project has made significant progress in empowering the refugee youth, there is still more work to be done. Future plans include:

• Advanced Training: Offering advanced training to help the trainees enhance their skills and explore more complex aspects of their chosen trades.
• Market Expansion: Facilitating access to broader markets to help the trainees reach a larger customer base.
• Mentorship Continuation: Continuing to provide mentorship and guidance to support the growth of their businesses.
• Access to Capital: Exploring avenues for accessing financial resources to help trainees with capital for their businesses.
• Community Outreach: Expanding community engagement and awareness about the project to attract more support and opportunities for the trainees.

Conclusion: “Give back their dignity” a project for refugees in the Leni Keller Skill acquisition center has made remarkable strides in empowering refugee youth with valuable skills and marketing know-how. It has transformed the lives of 54 young people by enabling them acquire skills to earn a livelihood and reintegrate into society. While there have been achievements, there is still room for growth and support to ensure the long-term economic stability of these talented individuals. The project remains committed to its goal of empowering and uplifting the lives of refugee youth.

Anastasia Kuma

Links:

• More about Leni Keller workshop managed by MKCDF