In the city of Mosul, Iraq, the devastation of the long-lasting conflict had left the citizens in a state of despair. Homes and schools were destroyed, and thousands of people had lost their jobs. The future seemed bleak for the people living in the city.
Hope came in the form of UNESCO's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme funded by the European Union as part of the “Reviving Mosul and Basra Old Cities” project. UNESCO recognized the need for job creation and skills training in post-conflict areas and implemented the TVET programme to provide education and training to the most vulnerable groups of youth and to equip them with the skills needed for the future.
One graduate of the TVET programme, a young woman named Ghufran Wa’ad Abdul Wahab, had lost her home in the conflict. She enrolled in the programme to learn brickwork work, and she was quickly able to find work in a local project. She used her earnings to rebuild her home and support her younger siblings, who were still in school.
The TVET programme in Mosul provided a range of courses that focused on the construction sector. This was in recognition of the fact that the demand for skilled workers in this sector is high and provided training courses in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) and the Vocational Training center in Mosul in brickwork, concrete, carpentry, plumbing installation and electrical installation. The courses were designed to be practical and hands-on, ensuring that trainees could put their newly acquired skills to work immediately.
The impact of the TVET programme was remarkable. Graduates were able to find jobs in the local community, and some even started their own businesses, contributing to the economic growth of the area. Moreover, the programme offered hope to the citizens of Mosul, giving them the chance to rebuild their lives and communities.
Ghufran's success story was just one of many that came out of the TVET programme in Mosul. The programme not only provided essential skills training but also restored hope and confidence in the people of the city.
