Two hundred and fifteen young people from displaced and host communities were trained in arts and crafts in Cabo Delgado, as part of efforts to promote the social and economic inclusion of youth, through the transfer of skills and tools.

The degree falls under the vocational training initiative launched in October 2021 by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Alberto Cassimo Institute for Vocational Training and Labor Studies (IFPELAC).

The project benefits young people who have fled their home areas due to violence and terrorism, and promotes gender equality so that girls and women have access to technical-vocational training.

The collaboration between UNHCR and IFPELAC allowed the young people to be trained in carpentry, civil metalworking, block making technique, construction, plumbing, secretarial skills, refrigeration and air conditioning, civil painting, and installing electricity.

"We hope that this group will be the beginning and example of an equitable and sustainable reconstruction. Supporting vocational training for these young men and women is to help them find a job market suited to their skills, in a stable and safe environment for all, as well as a key step in rebuilding their communities," said Margarida Loureiro, UNHCR's head of office in Pemba.

UNHCR's support for this vocational training scheme at IFPELAC covers the costs of registration and fees for technical courses, a stipend for transportation and basic needs, protective equipment, vocational kits, and the development of essential life skills and competencies through additional training and experiential learning.

In his turn, the IFPELAC delegate in Cabo Delgado, João Massingue, said that professional training is a robust tool that allows the transition to the labor market of young people, particularly those looking for their first job.

"We are engaged in continuing to train the youth of the province, not only for their insertion in the labor market, but also for activities oriented with the Reconstruction Plan of Cabo Delgado," concluded Massingue.