Creating access to employment opportunities for youth in Kyrgyzstan by improving vocational training facilities and capacity of relevant state authorities to support potential and returning migrants.

OSH [ACTED News] -- Southern Kyrgyzstan is characterized by widespread poverty and unemployment, disproportionately affecting rural communities and youth. Over half of the population of Kyrgyzstan is under the age of 25, and few have access to employment and economic opportunities. This lack of opportunities, particularly in the south, has led to an intensification of the resentment toward more affluent communities. Ultimately, this frustration was a prominent factor in the violent conflict of June 2010. To help reduce tensions and prevent future outbursts of violence in southern Kyrgyzstan, ACTED has contributed to addressing socio economic disparities for youth by providing access to employment opportunities.

In this context, ACTED has been working on improving vocational training facilities and courses and improving governance by strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Migration (MLEM) to deliver better services. With support from USAID, ACTED continues to reduce socio-economic vulnerability of youth in Kyrgyzstan.

Developing youth’s skills through improved vocational training facilities

The June 2010 conflict illustrated the risks associated with the unemployment of youth, which is largely due to their under-qualification or a mismatch between their competencies and the skills in demand on the labor market.

State-run vocational training centers (VTC) are one of the main technical skill providers for youth in Kyrgyzstan, particularly in rural areas. In total, there are 46 VTCs in the South of Kyrgyzstan that provide vocational courses in cooking, turning, hairdressing, bricklaying, electricity and gas welding, sewing, veterinarian studies and carpentry.

VTC #67 located in Alai district of Osh province was is one of the six selected VTCs that received equipment upgrades and modernized curricula. Twwenty-four teachers provide trainings at this VTC on different subjects to over 200 students.

In Alai, new equipment and upgraded curricula was provided for gas welding and veterinarian studies, two priorities for development in the region. “We are excited to start our courses with new equipment, text books and curriculum for teachers and students in upcoming fall. We are already forming our groups of approximately 25-30 students. At the moment we are thinking to extend our three months courses on veterinarian studies to a one year program. Also, a ten-month program on welding will now be utilized with gas welding to existing electro-welding”, said Joldosh, director of VTC #67.

Two teachers from Alai VTC took part in special training on modernized short-term courses. Much importance was given to the newly developed content related to the new equipment received and new teaching practices. Avaskan, veterinarian teacher, was genuinely grateful to receive special manuals developed for both teachers and students, and new equipment to teach with. “After I received training I decided to conduct a small introduction to all interested students and teachers from our VTC on equipment and manuals for veterinarian studies. The literature we had was quite limited and poor, and now my students will be interested in learning from well-developed manuals and a variety of equipment”. The packages they received included not only major tools, but also items such as protective clothing and safety goggles that are often forgotten.

Supporting youth through ministry capacity strengthening

VTC #67 is linked to the MLEM as both try to address the socio-economic well-being of youth in Kyrgyzstan and because recently all VTCs were put under the supervision of the ministry.

In order to strengthen the capacity of the MLEM, civil servants received manuals on migration and employment regulations as well as trainings on the role of the ministry and initiatives to support the search for job opportunities. ACTED also provided technical support, including the development of an employment database and content for their migration and employment website. ACTED also identified the need for setting up a Geographic Informations System (GIS) unit to map out migration trends, which included the technical equipment and training for the MLEM. Finally, a migrants’ reintegration service was set up in regional MLEM offices to facilitate professional and social integration of migrants.

All the developments within the MLEM are very recent, but Joldosh has already planned out future activities for his VTC: “When our students finish courses at the VTC we will be directing them to MLEM offices for further advice. I find particularly useful the creation of an employment database so that the students can easily search for jobs.” Not only can the MLEM support students from the VTC, but migrants and unemployed youth referred to MLEM offices can be now be better advised as to how to improve their job opportunities.