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PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
France Haïti Partage
France Haïti Partage announces the creation of a metalworking workshop which has met with great success with the children in the welcome centre, as well as the setting up of a partnership with the Lakay Centre to take in street girls for whom nothing was foreseen previously. Professional training is continuing but insertion into an active life is far from easy, for the reputation of these ex-street children does not work in their favour.
Cosame
The Cosame (Paris) jointly with the Artisans sans Frontières, the Chamber of Commerce, the European Guild of the RAID, presents candidates ready to depart (bakers, cobblers, dressmakers, etc.). Consult their web site
Népal Enfance et Lumière
"The association is reaching a crucial time, for we must now think about the professional future of "our" children. Some could go on to the SLC (equivalent to high school graduation) and go into higher education, but which will guarantee them work? To find apprenticeships, the route is long and difficult, for this society is based on an oral tradition. Nothing is writing, no list of existing apprenticeships and how they operate. (...) The problems increase when we attack the outlets before the SLC. (...) In this society where girls are mothers at 14-15, work must be found for them before they succumb to the family and social pressure of marriage, before they tire of their studies and successive failures."
Pomme
Cannelle
Kathmandu, Nepal "(...) The oldest receive a professional training - taxi or rickshaw driver, electrician and oil painting lessons, for one young artist, who sold his own drawings to tourists before he came to us. (...) However, such training doesn’t guarantee a job because of high unemployment and preferential bias. The best bet is to help children to be independently employed and create for them the appropriate structure of advice and finance."
Enfants et Développement
Enfants et Développement (France) support amongst others Sovann Phoum (a Cambodian association) in its research of professional training. The person in charge of this association has made a thorough research of craftsmen and small companies likely to take on a youngster to teach him a craft over a period of one to two years. Enfants et Développement covers the formation costs, if necessary the supply of the necessary tools, and lends a bicycle. The employer usually pays for the midday meal a lodging and pocket money. This agreement is confirmed by contract. A close follow up made by the person responsible of formation in the association is of utmost importance for the success of the training. A further job can of course be found easily if the youngster has proved his ability.
Krousar Thmey
Phnom Penh, Cambodia This association has organised since 1995 a formation of fishermen in two early sessions; the first one ashore lasts three months and the youngsters learn the theoretical and practical basics. They go to sea in turn at night. They then look for work on the port for the following three months. Then a complementary formation is given over a period of two months. Diplomas are given to them for the two sessions and they receive a daily allowance to make up for their loss of earnings. Fishing is a very physical activity and therefore hard on the children of the street. Some are not related to the fishing world or cannot even swim. Many give up during that year, but overall at least 15 and upto 25 youngsters come out with a job. Jobs related with building are sought for (welders, masons, glazier, air conditioning) as well as electricity and automobile mechanics. Others choose computers, cooking, or dressmaking.
Ashalayam
Calcutta, India Ashalayam has developed training programmes which should be profitable. Carpentry was one of the workshops. The training dealt with five different aspects: technology and drawing, so as to learn how to draw up plans; knowledge of tools and of essences, the carpentry itself (tenons, mortise) turning and oriental sculptures. A diploma is given at the end of their studies. Slowly but surely orders arrive from the outside, i.e. 47 benches and chairs for a school. Three out of the six pupils from the first year soon found work.
Les Galopins de Calcutta
Calcutta, India "We’ve got 16 boys and they all go to local schools , they are too young still to follow any sort of training for trade, a field in which we have little experience, due to the tender age of our children. In trying to equip them for the future we choose to send them to good schools for as long as possible so that they get a good base and a worthwhile diploma. It’s evident that this approach is best suited to children taken in when young or at least to those who can really apply. It is a costly solution too as English speaking schools here are fee-paying - but to possess a good use of English is an essential in India’s labour market. The children enjoy school. They will learn to speak English well, but will they find a job where they can live outside the slums and face the diverse costs of a family life? It will take years to see if this investment in schooling is the right answer."
Nanban
Maduraï, India "The success of the Christmas cakes made in the farm kitchen led to the idea of making them on a permanent and commercial basis which brought in a regular income. Three members of the kitchen staff now receive appropriate training."
Catholic Action for Street Children
(CAS)
Accra, Ghana "A great number of activities and people are involved in the education of children. It has therefore become necessary to establish a working scheme for the teachers. Up to then we relied to much on the initiative of our teachers and this eventually led to confusion in the child's mind. We find that it is important to know exactly what has been taught, how it has been taught, and what the children have learned. A coordinator has therefore been recruited. His task is, amongst other things, to follow the progress of the children. He makes sure that proper controls be carried out regularly in the workshops, and that the children are there to learn and not used as cheap labour. He also makes sure that all students have tools and adequate school kit. In brief he helps the teachers to carry out their task at best."
Les Enfants d'Abidjan
Abidjan, Ivory Coast Apprenticeship contracts are offered to youngsters whereby the youngster, Les Enfants d'Abidjan and BICE (Bureau International Catholique de l'Enfance) are partners. The youngster undertakes to carry out his apprenticeship of a job of his choice over a period of two or three year with an employer. Les Enfants d’Abidjan (based in France) finances the apprenticeship (the employer must be rewarded for his teaching) as well as the food, lodging and transport expenses. The BICE follows the progress of the youngster by meeting him at least once a month on payday. This arrangement avoids failures due to lack of money driving the child back in the street. It gives the additional guaranty of a proper teaching since in case of inadequate formation another employer will be found. Some employers live on the money they receive for the apprentice and employ them for a same repetitive task: a youngster can do some hems during one year and will never know how to make clothes. A diploma proving a qualification rewards some apprenticeships and this will help the youngster to find a job. Sometimes the youngster will be assisted in starting on his own or in partnership with someone else. Les Enfants d’Abidjan will then pay for the necessary initial investment of tools. Once started the contract will help the young beginner in the management and in the professional technical advice. This help will last as long as necessary for the youngster to find some costumers. The financial assistance will decrease as the youngster takes over the settlement of his expenses.
OPDE Burundi
Bujumbura, Burundi "The apprenticeship of smithy craftsmen is in its third year. The duration has been increased by four months in order to improve by practice the technical knowledge of the children. They are from then on appointed to production. The youngsters receive 20% of the sales price on all sales (braseros, watering cans, buckets, trunks, basins). In shoe repairs, leather works our first students have reached production level: satchels, shoes, belts, and cases. We are contemplating the opening of a shop in town to encourage our production. The successful students of the carpentry workshop helped by two young French carpenters have manufactured 199 tables. By now the dressmaking pupils are able to make some children clothes. The embroidery pupils can make tablecloths and napkins. The breeding project has a pig farm fattening 16 pigs and piglets. The farm capacity will soon need to be increased."
Fondation Solidarité des Hommes
Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo "Our numbers have doubled since 2001. (...) Thanks to meals served to the children we manage to retain them in our care from 8am to 3pm, keeping them away from the idleness and temptations of the street. (...) They are far more interested in lessons of real life (hygiene; respect for property; the battle against Aids and other sexually transmitted disease; the rights of children; political and administrative organisation; civic obligations and responsibilities; etc.) than they are in reading and writing or workshops. Each child learns a trade and produces something which he can sell to earn some money for his clothes and cleanliness and make a contribution of 1,5 euros per week towards the centres costs. Mechanics for example are learnt whilst on the job (car repairs and driving lessons). In woodwork, the boys make chairs tables and cupboards and learn how to make a quote. The girls learn sewing, embroidery and knitting. (...) Moreover and at the same time, one must ensure his or her professional re-insertion as the families, so very poor, have lost their sense of solidarity. 65% of demobilised children are re-enlisted because of the lack of supervision. Child workers are often hostile to the supervision they receive in our hostel because their main aim is to earn a wage. We begin by sorting the children into categories according to their trades and crafts, then we try to improve our relationship by group activities such as soccer."
El Caracol
Mexico, Mexico Concerning professional training the emphasis is on the quality of products produced (bakery, sandwiches) and on the extent of implication (information technology, quality of service). El Caracol has developed several tutorial tools also used by other institutions.
 Created
on 29 april, 2006 - Updated on 17 november, 2007 |
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