IRC Helps Refugee Apprentices Train for their Return to Afghanistan

22 Aug 2007 - Sixty-three young Afghan refugees in Pakistan recently took big strides toward rebuilding their lives. Under the aegis of the International Rescue Committee’s Durable Solutions Program, they completed apprenticeships in information technology that will help them establish careers and support their families when they return to Afghanistan.

The program has arranged thousands of apprenticeships with institutes and organizations willing to train young men for four to 15 months in carpentry, bookkeeping, graphic design, Web programming, civil drafting, masonry and other fields. It also provides refugees with knowledge and advice to make informed decisions about repatriation and employment opportunities.

In Pakistan, many Afghans are unwilling or unable to repatriate because they lack information about the security situation in their homeland, as well as the skills that would help them find work. “The results of the apprenticeship program and others like it are vital for giving individuals and their families the self-reliance and confidence to build their lives in their country of origin,” says Abdul Haseeb, the program’s coordinator in Pakistan.

He and his team identify the IT apprentices based on their education, intentions and individual needs, then link them with Creative Mind Innovator, a resource center in Peshawar with computer equipment and qualified course instructors. “The impact of such programs and activities has been profound,” explains Haseeb, “and has provided thousands of Afghans with much-needed expertise for strengthening their future.”

Most of the young graduates plan to continue their studies when they return to Afghanistan.  They also look forward to establishing software houses and IT training institutes in their native land.

This project is funded by a grant from EuropeAid.

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Google Map: IRC Programs in Pakistan