Iman Mohammed from Bani Quis, Hajjah governorate comes from a poor family of 11 members supported by her father who is a daily worker and a motorcyclist. She had to drop out of school at an early age because she did not get the essential assistance that she needed to reach her school, about 6 kilometres away from her village. Now that Iman is an 18-year-old semi-literate, she wishes she had had the chance to learn at school.  “I remember I was an excellent primary school student, but sadly I can’t read and write like many other girls at my age who finished high school,” said Iman.

To pursue another chance to learn some practical vocational skills in her life, Iman did not hesitate to join the Skills and Entrepreneurship Component of the Supporting Resilient Livelihoods and Food Security in Yemen Joint Programme (ERRY II), funded by the European Union and SIDA and implemented by ILO in partnership with Ghadaq Foundation. “Although this training taking place at Kashir village that is about 6 kilometres away from my village, there is no way I was going to miss this chance to learn something new in my life,” Iman asserted.

Iman’s dedication to make the most out of this training opportunity was obvious to Ms. Ahlam Ali Hussein – a theoretical instructor from the Ministry of Technical & Vocational Training (TEVT) specialized in tailoring, designing & sewing clothes. “Although Iman is semi-literate, she demonstrated a great deal of interest and quite easily managed to the basics of dress designs and embroidery,” said Iman’s instructor.

Beside the theoretical classes Iman attended, she gained some useful clothes-sewing skills out of the practical training she received at Kashir Sewing Lab from her master crafts person, Ms. Ashwaq Darweesh who reflected on her trainee “Iman did not know much about embroidery and dress making, yet she was quick to learn and produce tailored clothes”. 

Iman has gradually started sewing dresses at home, and she hopes this will turn into a business of her own which would provide her with a sustainable source of income. “Usually, an average piece of clothing would require 2000YR to make split into collars, thread, and fabric, when I sell the final material, it goes for no less than 3000YR giving me a profit of at least 1000YR”, said Iman. She reflected on the results acquired during the training phase, “During the Eid season I was able to earn good profit. I made around 12 traditional women’s dresses, 2 normal dresses and 3 pants.”

Iman is one of 590 apprentices who have been trained on life skills, financial literacy and theoretical training followed by on-the-job training, which was conducted by 320 master crafts persons who trained on learning methodologies, CBT/A and OSH under the apprenticeship scheme.

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The Supporting Resilient Livelihoods and Food Security in Yemen Joint Programme (ERRYJP II) is a three-year programme financed by the EU and SIDA and implemented in Yemen by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Food Programme (WFP) in six vulnerable governorates: Hajjah, Hodeidah, Lahj, Abyan, Taiz and Sana’a.