By Wajir Today Reporter
Forty women have graduated from a vocational tailoring programme in Wajir County on Friday marking a milestone in local efforts to combat unemployment and empower marginalised groups through practical skills.
The graduates, trained at the Wajir Vocational Training Centre, completed a months-long intensive course backed by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA). Each graduate received an industrial electric sewing machine to kickstart their path toward economic self-reliance.
The women are producing garments for local markets ranging from school uniforms and modest fashionwear to reusable sanitary towels. The latter, in particular, are being hailed as a crucial intervention for girls facing menstrual hygiene barriers that often disrupt their education.
The initiative arrives at a time when local leaders are pushing for a shift from traditional education-to-office-job pathways toward skills-based training as a solution to rampant unemployment.
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi used the occasion to call on the county’s youth to embrace vocational education as a viable and sustainable livelihood strategy.
“Empowering our youth through the Wajir Vocational Training Centre is one of the most effective ways to unlock economic potential and promote self-reliance.” the Governor said. “I take this opportunity to urge all unemployed youth across Wajir County to take full advantage of the vocational training opportunities available.”
All 40 graduates will be retained at the Centre’s workshop. Plans are also underway to establish a Community-Based Organisation (CBO) to scale up production and link the women with broader markets. The County Department of Education has been tasked with facilitating this next phase.
TIKA Country Director Yasemin Cansuz-Kurt was commended for Turkey’s unwavering commitment to grassroots development. TIKA has partnered with local governments to support projects that uplift vulnerable communities through education, health, and economic empowerment initiatives.
