SUCCESS STORIES OF BENEFICIARIES OF THE COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER IN JAMOAT SEBISTON OF DANGHARA DISTRICT
Recognition and Validation of skills provided Muhammadjon with new opportunities
Muhammadjon Khojanazarov recently opened his own welding shop in his village. Although he worked as a welder for many years, he lacked the professional skills to diversify his products; he only made gates and fences. Moreover, the quality of his work did not satisfy him at all. In the meantime, Muhammadjon went for a labor migration, and when he returned home from Russia, a local community learning center had already been opened in his village. So, Muhammadjon decided to improve his qualifications and engage in self-development. In 2022, he underwent additional vocational training at the local community learning center in Jamoat Sebiston of Dangara district, and had passed the validation of professional competencies. In two weeks, studying the intricacies of welding, Muhammadjon Khojanazarov received an official state document - a certificate of obtaining a profession. Then he decided to migrate again and went to Russia.
“An official supporting document, that is, a certificate or diploma, is very important for legal activity” - says welder Muhammadjon Khojanazarov. “Several years ago I was in labor migration. My professional level was low and I did not have a certificate of qualification, so I was not hired as a welder. I was an unskilled worker. This time, after completing a short-term course at the center, I again went to Russia and got a job in a construction company based on my qualifications. I passed the test at a construction site and convinced employers that I had mastered the profession with all its nuances. They also gave me a certificate confirming my professional degree. So new opportunities opened up for me and I worked for a year with a high salary,” said the young specialist.
Not long ago, Muhammadjon returned to his hometown and opened a workshop of construction materials and welding in the center of Jamoat Sebiston. For more than a month, he has been preparing various products from iron, steel and aluminum. Using the skill he learned, he also repairs some car spare parts.
Muhammadjon says that employers in Russia are waiting for him. But he decided to stay in his homeland and continue his work. Because, according to him, the master’s products have buyers both at home and abroad.
Muhammadjon Khojanazarov expressed satisfaction with his work and income at his new job and stated that he was able to provide his family with a livelihood.
Housewives' first steps towards entrepreneurship
“If previously the task of Tajik rural women was to raise children and do household chores from morning to evening, today it has changed in accordance with the requirements of the time. Previously, there was a widespread belief among people that men should work and women should stay at home. But today things are different. Because with the creation of favorable conditions, rural women also had the opportunity to master the necessary skills and professions, and at least engage in income-generating activities at home” - said Fazilamoh Azamova, a resident of Jamoat Sebiston, at the beginning of the conversation.
Although this middle-aged woman has sufficient experience in housekeeping, last year she decided to master the confectionery business in order to begin her professional work at home. She applied to the community learning center in the Jamoat Sebiston, which opened in May 2022, and have had a vocational training course along with other women and girls for two months.
“I think that every Tajik woman, regardless of her profession, should be able to cook and sew. I also used to cook at home as a housewife with many years of experience. But, I must admit, I didn’t really know the intricacies of the confectionery business. At the center, I learned to prepare not only confectionery, but also various food products according to standards and requirements, including salads and national dishes. After successfully completing the training, I was given a certificate. Now I take orders and prepare sweets and cakes for weddings and other events at home” - continued Fazilamoh.
Fazilamoh also engaged her daughter-in-law, Murodgul Sharipova, in studying at the above-mentioned center to learn dressmaking. Murodgul is currently planning to continue her training in tambour embroidery so that she can have a money-making job at home like her mother-in-law.
Entrepreneurship brings income
Madina Goibnazar is a 9th grade student of secondary school #55 in Jamoat Sebiston. As a schoolgirl, she had a keen interest in sewing and learned the skill at a local community learning center earlier this year. She studied for two months on a free of charge short course and then continued her training for another month to improve her sewing skills.
“Women and girls in our village buy fabric from the market and give it to dressmakers to make the desired clothes. They almost never buy ready-made clothes in stores. We really need qualified dressmakers. Especially during the working season - in spring and summer, women order more dresses for themselves than in autumn and winter. In this regard, I wanted to master cutting and sewing and do it at home”- said Madina.
Madina has already become a famous dressmaker in the her community. She has been sewing women's and children's clothing for several months. According to her, not a day goes by without an order. She also teaches this skill to some of her peers.
“I sew every day. Now I sew a woman’s dress for 30-40 somoni and spend my income on my needs. This year, with the money I earned, I bought a school uniform, a backpack, books and school supplies. I am very happy about this small success of mine and am trying to master the intricacies of sewing and become a skilled dressmaker. I dream of opening my own sewing workshop and expanding my activities”- Madina stated.
It should be noted that the Community Learning Center was established in the Sebiston jamoat on the basis of the representative office of the State Institution “Adult Training Center of Tajikistan” in Danghara district in May 2022 on the initiative of the public organization “Cultural and Educational Center “Tomiris””. The activities of the center are supported by the Country Office of DVV International in the Republic of Tajikistan financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
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