Original Story Published by: Staff Writer for Relief Web
Photo Source: ©IOM/2019 Mariam Njai
(Above)A Gambian welding graduate with his start-up kit.
Banjul – Abba Wollow left the Gambia in 2016 with hopes of reaching Europe. “I left the Gambia because the small garage I was working on was not enough to support my family,” he explained. “I left to find something better for them.”
Instead his journey ended in Libya, where he stayed for two years, in and out of prison. “When I came back, I was still finding ways to support my family,” he said of the struggles he faced after voluntarily returning home in February 2018.
In June 2018, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) signed an agreement with the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS), under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to provide Technical and Vocational Educational Training (TVET) to 200 Gambian returned migrants. Through this agreement, NYSS taps into the expertise of four private sector enterprises and two government training centres to deliver training in various skill areas to returnees like Abba.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to undergo a three-month training in mechanics,” said Abba, who is now one of 101 young Gambians to complete the programme.
On Tuesday 19 March 2019, the trainees formally graduated from their three-month training in construction, carpentry, electronics, mechanics, plumbing, tailoring, welding and many other sectors. Each of them will receive a start-up kit consisting of the basic materials and tools necessary to set-up and operate a workshop in their chosen sector.
To read the full article, visit Relief Web.
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