ILO Country Director, Mr. Toumo Poutiainen, along with representatives from the Aspire to Innovate (a2i) program, visited the YPSA YES Center in Cox’s Bazar on April 3, 2024.
The YPSA YES Center is working collaboratively with a2i on the “Improving Skills and Economic Opportunities for the Women and Youth in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh” (ISEC) project. This initiative aims to empower young people economically by providing them with valuable technical and vocational skills training.
Upon arrival, Mr. Poutiainen was warmly welcomed by Mohammed Shahidul Islam, Assistant Director of YPSA, and Rozina Akter, Project Coordinator for a2i.
Yousuf Ali, Training Coordinator of the YPSA YES Center, delivered a comprehensive presentation. He covered various aspects of the training program, including:
- The number of training batches conducted
- The number of trainees who participated
- The total training duration
- Demographics of the trainees (age groups)
- Curriculum followed by the trainers
- Strategies for recruiting students from Madrasahs (religious educational institutions)
- Trainee interests and motivations for enrolling in the program
The ILO Country Director actively interacted with the trainees. He posed some insightful inquiries of his own. Notably, he asked about the trainees’ plans after completing the course.
The trainees enthusiastically shared their aspirations. Many expressed a desire to become self-employed, potentially venturing into fields like digital marketing or computer training. Additionally, some participants displayed a strong sense of community service, aiming to provide free skills training to local youth.
Mr. Poutiainen also visited Jamiyatul Imam Muslim Madrasa, a religious educational institution located in Cox’s Bazar Sadar. He held a brief meeting with the Madrasa’s management to discuss their perspectives on skill development needs and future plans.
The Madrasa representatives highlighted the importance of expanding vocational training opportunities for their students. Due to financial constraints, many students lack access to external skill-building programs.
