Bunia, 10 February 2020- A four-week basic computer training session for Ituri’s youths organized by the MONUSCO Bangladeshi contingent, in coordination with the local government took place this month.
A graduation ceremony was held at the Professional Center of Bunia, during which a delegation from the Bangladeshi contingent awarded the training completion certificate to the 21 participants, including 7 women.
Such training initiatives are undertaken by the Force as part of its civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) projects to help to empower the local population, especially young people, while projecting a positive image of The United Nations Mission.
Meanwhile, another vocational training project was underway at Ndromo, which the Bangladeshi delegation visited the same day. The fifth of its kind, this plumbing training started on 21 January 2020 and ended on 8 February 2020.
One of the advantages of these training activities is that they can be completed within a relatively short period of time, while achieving a long-lasting effect in the community.
263 young people trained so far
A total of 263 people, including 43 women, have so far received vocational training from the Force sector in Ituri, with 1578 people of the community benefiting indirectly.
The training covers a variety of fields, including basic computer skills, plumbing, electrical house wiring, AC and refrigerator maintenance, mobile phone repair, and direct current battery charging.
Upon completion of training, the participants are presented with a certificate which is endorsed by the local authority so that the recipients have better employment and income opportunities.
Many of the training beneficiaries are now self-employed or work for different organizations. “I make an average of 250 UD dollars per month”, says Adreza Apayi Anuarite, a lady who now runs her own mobile repairing shop near the locality of Bogoro.