Vocational training: sewing

PURE! believes that vocational education is crucial to the development of young adults and in particular young girls. The community research conducted in April 2010 showed amongst others that many young girls leave the community to work in the big cities. They leave without proper education or training and have no real work experience. In a country like Cambodia, the former can be very risky to the wellbeing of such girls. Many of them end up in the ‘entertainment industry’ where they have to work for many hours in restaurants, cafes and brothels.

Young adults don’t choose to leave the community, but they just can’t afford it to attend a vocational training. Currently, there are no vocational trainings offered in the Kandek community and the community member simply can’t afford it to attend a vocational program in another city because of high education, transportation and accommodation costs.

In 2011 PURE! wants to start a one year sewing training for girls from the Kandek community between 15 and 21 years old. At first, the products will be sold at the local market. With sufficient progression and quality of the products, they will also be sold to tourists in Cambodia and at the international market. Providing solely technical training will not be sufficient for the girls to get a hold on a decent job. Besides technical training, PURE! will therefore offer workshops and trainings related to the labour market, computer skills and application procedures. In addition, PURE! will facilitate internship positions for the young adults after they completed their training at the PURE! Dream Centre.

The training will start with ten girls; it will increase their chances at a bright future and will enable them to work within their own community close to their family and friends.