New life skills for Egyptian Community in Elbasan

ELBASAN, April 22 – Young women from Elbasan’s Egyptian community are taking part in a vocational training programme to build new life skills. In all, a total of twenty students, both Egyptian and ethnic Albanian, are following a six month cookery course.
The course has been organized in collaboration with the One UN Joint Programme Empowering the Vulnerable Local Communities of Albania and the local NGO Another Vision. Upon completion of the course in the coming months, graduates will be supported to secure gainful employment within a selection of local business working in hospitality industry.
Reflecting upon her involvement in the course, Sonila highlighted: “It’s great to have been able to take part in this cookery course. Together with three other women from my community, we have learnt new skills that will benefit our families and provide better work opportunities in the future. ”
Sonila went on to comment: “The course has also given me the chance to make new friends. When we finish the course, we will be supported to find work in some of the local restaurant and hotels, making use of our new skills. This makes me very happy.”
Bruna Peqini, a United Nations Volunteer and Community Exchange Working in Elbasan noted: “Through the Joint Programme, we have had the opportunity to build relationships within the community and touch their lives. By taking part in vocational training courses such as this, we have been able to help member of the Egyptian community to realize their own potential and see that they have many skills and can contribute to society.”
The Egyptian and Roma community in Albania has been largely excluded from the benefits of recent economic growth due to low educational qualifications, severely affecting their social and economic status. Casual and informal sectors are the main sources of livelihoods. Such vocational training is allowing member of the Egyptian and Roma community to obtain new skills and enhance their life choices.