Some 43 trainees have qualified after an intensive one-month driving course comprised of 20 theoretical lessons, 20 practical lessons, and 4 basic mechanical skills training.
The training is aimed at discouraging the youth from joining extremist groups like al Shabaab in the Mandera triangle area, by equipping them with skills to help them get jobs and reduce unemployment in the area.
It was implemented by the Building Opportunities for Resilience in the Horn of Africa and Regional Approaches for Sustainable Conflict Management and Integration in collaboration with the Mandera county government with European Union funding.
BORESHA works in the cross-border areas of the Horn of Africa.
It invests in preventing and mitigating the impact of local conflict, promoting economic development and greater resilience in four different border regions.
RASMI works in building peace in the Mandera Triangle, along with the Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia border, to provide conflict sensitivity training to enlighten youth against joining violent armed groups.
The project also uses a conflict systems-based approach to promote peacebuilding, conflict management, and conflict resolution capacity among communities living along the border.
BORESHA has previously trained 160 youth in various skills training and provided them with startup kits upon completion of their respective courses and the majority of them are now self-employed.
BORESHA representative present during the graduation ceremony said there is a huge gap and demand for driving courses as a result of infrastructural development in Mandera.
This has resulted in an influx of cars with no manpower to match the need.
The representatives said it’s their mandate to bridge the gap and empower youth in need.
BORESHA is targeting 110 youth for various skills training this year within Mandera.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris