Holding the Graduation Ceremony of 550 most vulnerable children from the OSAA vocational classes in Herat province

At first, Ms. Fareshta Yaqoubi Director of the OSAA organization welcomed the guests and explained the details of implementing the first round of this TVET project in Herat city and the Rubat Sangi, Pashton Zarghon, and Islam Qala districts. Ms. Yaqoubi added that 550 of the most vulnerable children or their caregivers have received technical and vocational training in the first round of this project in 13 marketable vocations, and today we are participating in their graduation. In addition to vocational training, the trainees in this round received life skills, literacy, and small business management skills training as well as psychological counseling. OSAA and all partners and donors to this project are committed to implementing employment programs through the employment service center to support the graduates in the future.

Mr. Mohammad Asif Foulad, Country Director of HELP Germany INGO while welcoming the guests, appreciated the sustainable support of UNICEF, European Union, and WFP to continue the implementation of such effective projects in western Afghanistan. He explained the background of HELP INGO in the implementation of the TVET and livelihood projects for the most vulnerable children and families in the last 15 years.

Mr. Foulad added that HELP Germany is committed to supporting the street children and other categories of vulnerable children as well as IDPs and returnees through the TVET, CPiE, and other educational projects in the western region provinces.

Then, Mr. Farzan Hussaini, Child Protection Officer of UNICEF in Western Afghanistan explained the aim of UNICEF’s support in implementing technical and vocational training programs for street children and other vulnerable children, adding that these children should be directed to schools and education, and their brothers and sisters through technical and vocational training should be included in the labor market so that the family’s livelihood is provided.

Subsequently, Mr. Abdul Salam Ashrafi, director of Herat DoEC asked the graduates of this training course to use the toolkits they receive to start their own small businesses and take steps towards economic self-sufficiency. He also wanted to continue the education of these teenagers.

Mr. Hafez Abu Mansoor, Director of Herat DoLSA appreciated the efforts of OSAA, HELP Germany, UNICEF, and WFP in implementing and supporting such effective project in Herat province which totally will cover 1600 most vulnerable families. He suggested the project stakeholders increase the number of trainees in Ansari VTC and develop the project to other remote districts in the 2^nd phase of the project.

The graduation ceremony ended with giving appreciation letters to the directors and heads of cooperatives and unions who cooperated in the implementation of this project and distributing some samples of the toolkit to the graduates.