How Garment Training Is Giving Hope to Young Women
Kombolcha, a town in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, faces a significant unemployment challenge, particularly for women. Although the city’s industrial park has created some job opportunities, its impact remains limited when compared to the large number of job seekers.
The fourth edition of the Labor Force and Migration Survey report released by the Central Statistical Agency (CSA) in August 2021 revealed an unemployment rate of nearly 28% in Kombolcha, with 23% of young adults out of work. Notably, women in the city experience higher unemployment rates than men. These figures might change every year, as the population is increasing and employment is still a challenge for the younger generation across the country.
Several factors contribute to unemployment in Kombolcha town, such as internal migration, rapid industrialization, urban expansion, and widespread poverty. These challenges create a complex environment for job seekers, especially women, who face additional barriers to employment.
The RAPIM Project: Turning Dreams into Reality
In Kombolcha town, young women like Hanan and Mahlet are determined to change their futures. They’re unemployed but full of hope, seeking opportunities to develop skills that will help them stand on their own feet. With limited job prospects in the area, they see skill training as their way forward.
Kelem Ethiopia is helping young people pave the way to a brighter future through its RAPIM project, providing them with the opportunity to acquire technical skills that can change their lives.
The program offers training in five areas: garment making, plumbing and sanitary installation, building electrical installation, gypsum and tiling. This initiative is designed to help youth gain practical skills and open doors to employment or entrepreneurship.
Hanan’s Journey: From Trainee to Tailor
Hanan Ahmed has spent the last three months at Kelem Ethiopia’s training center in Kombolcha, learning the ins and outs of garment making. What started as basic lessons in pattern making, cutting, and measuring has turned into a passion. Now, Hanan confidently sews shirts, trousers, skirts, and dresses—skills she never imagined she could master.
“I’m a tailor now”
As she approaches the end of her training, Hanan is full of hope. “I’m a tailor now” she says with pride. She dreams of starting her own shop and sees this training as her door to a new life, one where she can be independent and self-sufficient.
The Need for Support
While Hanan is excited about her future, she knows there are challenges ahead, especially financial ones. She believes that young people like her should have access to support and funding to help start their own businesses. “We need financial backing to make our dreams a reality,” she says, hopeful that more coordinated efforts will help them get started.
The Power of Skill Training: Trainer’s Pride
Zabura Mohammad, who is a trainer in the garment course, is thrilled with how quickly her students are picking up skills. She sees real progress in them every day. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the youth, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of this training,” she says with a smile.
Why Empowering Women Matters.
Zabura is passionate about empowering women through skill development, particularly in the garment industry. “Women are key players in this sector, and training them gives them the ability to support themselves and their families,” she explains. She hopes to see the youth empowerment program grow, believing it’s a powerful tool for positive change at the community level.
Mahlet Kebede: Hope and Concerns for the Future
Mahlet Kebede, another young woman from Kombolcha, shares her excitement about the garment training. “This training has been amazing. We’ve learned everything—from the basics to finishing a garment—and it’s given us new confidence,” she says.
But Mahlet also has her concerns. Coming from a low-income family, she’s anxious about what will happen once the training ends. “We need financial support to turn these skills into real opportunities,” she says. Without help to start her own business, Mahlet fears the training might not have the impact it could. And she is hoping to get a continued support “And I really hope that we can get continued support, which helps us set up our own businesses and build a future we can be proud of.”
“I’m so grateful for this opportunity and would like to thank Kelem Ethiopia,” she concluded.
Kelem Ethiopia is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in reducing unemployment in Kombolcha town. Through the RAPIM project, the organization aims to equip young people, like Hanan and Mahlet, with practical knowledge and skills that empower them to create their own employment opportunities.
So far, the program offers training for over 881 youths who are exposed to illegal migration and unemployed youths, of which 10 percent are females, says Mulumebet Demeke, coordinator at the youth skill training center at Kelem Ethiopia. Among the trainees are engaged in employment on a permanent or contract basis, while some are self-employed, Mulumebet added.
Call for Continued Support
The RAPIM project has given young girls in Kombolcha the skills and confidence to pursue their dreams. For these dreams to truly take flight, it’s not enough to just provide training—they also need financial support and the resources to turn their businesses into reality.
As Hanan, Mahlet, and their peers complete their courses, they look to the future with hope, knowing that with the right support, they can create a better tomorrow for themselves and their communities.
Thanks to the generous financial support of #Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), #TERRA TECH Förderprojekte e.V., #Aktion Deutschland Hilft this project not only provides technical skills but also works to shift mindsets, inspiring young people to take charge of their futures and create lasting, sustainable livelihoods.
