As part of the emergency social protection and food crisis response project led by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Solidarity, the Djiboutian Agency for Social Development (ADDS) presented certificates and driver’s licenses to 87 young people from the city of Ali Sabieh and nearly 70 others from Dikhil, all beneficiaries of vocational training programs. Funded by the World Bank, the program is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFOP).

Since the end of last week, a team from the ADDS’s social development department has been traveling to the main cities in the southern regions to present training completion certificates and driver’s licenses to young beneficiaries who successfully completed their vocational training.

This program, part of the emergency social protection and food crisis response project led by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Solidarity (MASS), is implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFOP).

First, Ali Sabieh…

The ceremony was held on Thursday, April 30th at the Ali Sabieh Industrial and Commercial High School (LIC), in the presence of several dignitaries, including the Deputy Prefect, Ms. Saïda Waberi Assoweh, the President of the Regional Council, Mr. Charmake Hassan Allaleh, and the Director of Social Development at ADDS, Mr. Galab Hassan Galab. Local elected officials, award recipients, and their families also attended the event.

In total, 87 young people from the region received their certificates in various promising fields, in line with the needs of the job market, including electricity, refrigeration and air conditioning, mechanics, computer science, plumbing and driving.

In their remarks, the authorities present unanimously praised the commitment and perseverance of the graduates. The Director of Social Development at ADDS emphasized that these training programs represent a crucial step in the professional integration of young people. He also highlighted their positive impact on boosting the beneficiaries’ self-esteem and improving their employability. In a context marked by an ongoing military recruitment campaign in the Ali Sabieh region, these training programs take on particular significance. Young people with technical skills have a significant advantage, as their profiles are highly sought after, which considerably increases their chances of joining the armed forces. For his part, the President of the Ali Sabieh Regional Council expressed his gratitude to ADDS and the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFOP), commending the complementary nature of their efforts, which enabled the implementation of this program for the benefit of local youth.

And in Dikhil on Monday morning

The certificate presentation ceremony took place at the Dikhil Industrial and Commercial High School (LIC), in the presence of the Deputy Prefect, Mr. Idriss Houssein Abass, the President of the Regional Council, Mr. Mahad Houssein Ahmed, the Regional Director of Education, Mr. Hafid Mohamed Kaid, and the Director of Social Development, Mr. Galab Hassan Galab. Local elected officials and parents of the graduates also participated in the event.

Like the city of Ali Sabieh, nearly 70 young people received their certificates of completion of training on Monday in promising fields with high employment potential, including electricity, mechanics, forklift driving, refrigeration and air conditioning, as well as driving, which resulted in obtaining a license.

In their various interventions, the authorities unanimously praised the commitment and perseverance of the beneficiaries, highlighting the crucial role of these training programs in strengthening their employability and their sustainable integration into working life.

It is worth noting that in Ali-Sabieh and Dikhil, these training programs are fully aligned with the promotion of human capital, a key driver of socio-economic development, to which the ADDS (National Agency for Social Development and Solidarity) attaches strategic importance. Through this initiative, the Agency reaffirms its commitment to continuing its work to improve youth employability and sustainably strengthen national skills. In these cities in the southern regions, the ceremonies, marked by a friendly atmosphere, concluded at each stage with the presentation of training completion certificates and driver’s licenses, followed by group photos of all the participants.