WUNRN
YEMEN - INTERNALLY
DISPLACED-IDP-WOMEN GRADUATE TRAINING BY ISLAMIC RELIEF
By Yemen Post Staff
Islamic Relief Yemen (IRY) held, today, March 31, 2012, the graduation
ceremony, under the Integrated Emergency Response Project-Phase II (IERP2)
project where 180 female IDPs have completed income generation vocational
training covering sewing/embroidery, beautification/hairdressing and incense
making. The ceremony was held this morning at Aisha School in Sanaa’ located
near MOPIC/Interpol Office. IERP2 is a British government (DFID) funded
initiative targeting conflict affected and vulnerable populations in various
parts of the country where Phase II has largely focused on northern
governorates of Saa’dah, Amran and Sana’a. Phase III which is currently being finalized
between consortium members CARE Int’l (Consortium managing INGO) and DFID,
largely focuses on several additional governorates with a focus on the
crisis-level malnutrition situation in Hodediah.
The event was attended by IRY Country Director, Hashem Awnallah, Solaiman
Altabrizi, Manger of the International Organizations Dept. at the Ministry of
Human Rights; Mr. Ali Ghiath of the Althwareh District Education Office, Ms.
Taghreed Al-Iryani, head of the Ministry of Vocational Training’s Girls Education
Dept. Ms. Sabah Almatary, head of IRY’s implementing partner organization,
Attah Alkhair Society. Local media representatives also attended the ceremony.
After the ceremony and prior to passing out successful training certificates to
the trainees, above named officials and organizational representatives then
moved to a nearby hall and inspected the products produced by the female IDPs,
where everyone was impressed at the quality of the goods displayed. It was also
agreed that a special exhibition showcasing these products is to be planned and
implemented in the next couple of weeks where consortium members, DFID
representative(s), the media and other stakeholders will be invited to see and
document this consortium ‘success story’. Each trainee will also receive trade
tools/kits such as a sewing machine, bakhoor (incense) making materials and a
beautification kit in order for each trainee to begin small enterprise
operations to ensure income generation and sustainability.
The aim of IERP2 is to improve various basic services covering health,
protection and livelihood in during its nine-month implementation period of
July2011 through March2012.
Around 5100 IDPs, returnees and host community members in Saa’dah benefited
from IRY health sector support including equipping eight health centres and
providing each with provisions of essential drugs as well as building the
capacity of the health cadre operating these facilities. IRY through IERP2 also
helped in improving the protection sector in Saa’da, Amran and Sana’a for over
15000 IDPs, returnees and host communities especially vulnerable cases and
women with special need. IERP2 also provided 1000 households in Amran and
Saa’da with income generation projects and project management training.
IERP consortium consists of five INGOs: Islamic Relief-Yemen, CARE
International, ADRA, OXFAM and Save the Children. These organizations, under
the consortium, have responded and will continue to respond to emergency, and
where, possible, recovery/developmental needs in key livelihood sectors in
Yemen as appropriate.
Islamic Relief has been operational in Yemen since 1998, mainly focusing on seasonal projects during its early, but has now expanded with its Emergency Response Department (under which consortium funded operations are implemented), Development Program (with several projects in conflict transformation and peace building-(CTPB), water and sanitation as well as CSO capacity building projects all over the country and Orphan Sponsorship and Care Program and projects. Given Yemen’s development and humanitarian challenges and the need to achieve lasting impact, Islamic Relief decided to open a fully functional field office in Yemen in August 2004 and currently operates in Sana’a, Saadah, Hajjah (Haradh), Amran and Aden. IRY also plans to begin operating in Hodeidah as part of both its consortium phase III partnership as well as IRY interventions in food security, health and nutrition and livelihoods activities.