More than a year after graduating in public administration from a local university, Hassan Adan Egal landed his first job in February with a fishing company in Mogadishu.
He was among 42 young people hired by local fishing companies following a 45-day free training they were offered by Banadir regional administration and marine resources firm, Kalluun-maal.
Hassan was taken on by Kalluun-Maal and is using the skills he learned in fishing and fish meat handling in a job that pays $300 a month.
“To be honest, this job has changed my lifestyle and that of my family for the better. My parents count on me every month now. I send them some money whenever I receive my salary,” said Hassan, who lives alone in a rented room in Banadir.
He had applied unsuccessfully for numerous jobs after completing his degree at Green Home university. As well as supporting his parents and siblings, he feels he has a skill that will serve him well in future.
“It is hard to get a job here. You have seen how hard it is to get the NGOs and government jobs. I have repeatedly complained about been unemployed to the Banadir regional administration. But now I have a job thanks to their training,” he said.
Clan affiliation is often a factor that determines those who get job opportunities. The training programme aimed to create jobs for unemployed graduates and other youth from displaced or disadvantaged families.
Farah Abdi Hersi, a father of two, said his family had been depending on food donations from charity organisations, whilst he idled away his time in tea shops chatting about politics, until he was hired by Kalluun-maal.
“Thank God now, I wake up every morning to go to work. I provide for my wife and children,” he said.
Mohamed Adan, another displaced youth employed under the scheme, said his job had helped him to recover his sense of pride.
“When you are unemployed, you don’t even know what to tell people. I used to feel awkward whenever my colleagues asked what I do, but now I answer them happily whenever they ask me. I am very satisfied with my job,” Mohamed told Radio Ergo’s local reporter.
The head of operations and human resources at Kalluun-maal, Hiish Dakane Adan, said they hired 20 of the young people trained. Ten were now fishing at sea and 10 were involved in fish sales.
“The selection was done by Banadir regional authority, who had the list of the unemployed youth. They chose those who they deemed deserved the training most,” Hiish stated.
“Our main aim with the training was to take advantage of the marine resources at our disposal and to bring unemployed youth on board so they gain the skills to support themselves even if they don’t get jobs.”
Source: Radio Ergo
