A dozen young people were granted a cash envelope for the start of their entrepreneurship activities in Damerjog. It is through the Propeja project of the ADDS that such an initiative was born.

Entrepreneurship is a way for young people to be free from the horrors of unemployment. That is why the government, through its armed wing, the Djiboutian Social Development Agency (ADDS), is working tirelessly by multiplying initiatives to provide adequate and appropriate opportunities for young people in four corners of the country. It is in this sense that the ADDS proceeded yesterday to the regional council of Arta, the grant of a start-up fund to a dozen young people from the localities of Damerjog and Douda.

The event was attended by ADDS Director Mahdi Djama and the project leader and Ide Mohamed and an elected representative from the locality of Damerjog. This ceremony was part of the implementation of the project for the promotion of youth employment and crafts (Propeja).

With the support of the Japan Fund for Social Development and administered by the World Bank, Propeja’s main objective is to improve the accessibility of young people and women to income and employment opportunities, through training, support and financial support for the implementation of their income-generating activities.

After four months of intense training, focused on the tricks of the business of entrepreneurship, the basics and subtleties of taking the first step in the corporate world and especially the ways to grow their business, thirty six laureates were distinguished, in all twelve projects, four projects in Douda and eight in Damerjog, up to four hundred thousand francs (400,000 FDJ) per project.

So it was yesterday, in an atmosphere of joviality and hope that the twelve young people received their first payment of money from the director general of the ADDS. Not exceeding four hundred thousand francs, this envelope will allow these young people to get started in their activities, and especially to open a bank account at the counters of the CPEC. Selected beforehand by a jury, the activities of the recipients meet the needs of the inhabitants of these localities. Whether it’s selling vegetables or reselling prepaid cards …

Projeja’s project leader, Ide Mohamed, immediately made these young people aware of the importance of looking after the interests of their small shop.

Once entered the world of entrepreneurship, the main concerned will always be accompanied and advised by ADDS experts.

It should be remembered that this project provides basic training on entrepreneurship, a competition for micro-projects, and support for women artisans in production and marketing. It is for the ADDS to set up an exit strategy of poverty through access to funding for at least 3000 young men and women of low or medium-skilled who come from the communities of Djibouti city, Arta Tadjourah, Obock, Dikhil, and Ali Sabieh.