EU and ILO help develop skills among youth in Mannar

Creating job opportunities for young people and promoting ‘Productive employment and decent work’ are important elements in the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) mandate.

Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Libuse Soukupova with the vocational trainee graduates 

As a former conflict-affected region, Mannar is now moving towards rehabilitation and sustainable development where human capacity development plays a key role in reaching the goals set by the Government of Sri Lanka. As a step to achieving this goal, under the European Union Support to District Development Program (EU-SDDP) with a total financial envelope of Rs. 8.8 billion aims at supporting the thrust of the Government of Sri Lanka towards economic and social development in seven conflict-affected districts. In Mannar District, the International Labour Organization (ILO) joined hands with Technical College, Mannar to improve access to relevant and quality skills training in the district.

Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Libuse Soukupova addressing the gathering

Mannar was identified as high growth in construction due to the post-conflict resettlement process of displaced families, infrastructure development and rehabilitation of community structures. The ILO, through the EU-SDDP support initially supported the Mannar Technical College with equipment worth Rs. 4.70 million to conduct courses on construction related trades. The first course helped to graduate 54 youth on construction site supervision. Another Rs. 3.90 million worth of equipment will be provided for motorcycle and scooter training.  

The official handing over of training equipment under EU-SDDP took place at Mannar Technical College on 30 August with participation of Libuse Soukupova – Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, P.M.C.N. Balasooriya Deputy Director, Academics Department of Technical Education and Training (DTET) and M.Y. S. Deshapriya – Government Agent of Mannar. During the event, the graduates of construction site supervision course received their certificates of successful completion of the training. 

Graduate of construction supervision course Daniel Thas Nevis receives her certificate from Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Libuse Soukupova 

European Union Support to District Development Program (EU-SDDP) has aimed at contributing to the transition from post-conflict relief to reconstruction and development by supporting selected districts in the North and East as focus districts in line with respective local development plans. Under “Local Economic Development” component of the program, ILO undertakes a comprehensive and integrated approach to enable young women and men to make a smooth transition to work through skills training. 

ILO has partnered with Vocational Training Institutes in the district of Mannar to conduct quality skills training based on labour market demand. Under those agreements 320 youth received skills training in nine selected high demand trades, namely plumbing, electrical, welding, heavy equipment operating, modern dress making, automobile repairing, hospitality trades, ICT and construction related trades at selected training centres. The trained youth are linked with District Public Employment Services (PES) Centre also established under EU SDDP for employment placement. It also supports and aims to achieve the One Million Jobs for Youth initiative of the present Government through enhancing market oriented vocational training.