Mercy Corps, an international NGO, kicks off training activities for locals during reconstruction in the earthquake-ravaged district of Mansehra. Commercial Trade Training Centres are being established, four of which will be in the Siran and Konch Valleys of Mansehra.
The first of the commercial training centre was inaugurated in Dadar village on Wednesday. On the occasion DCO Manshera, Shakeel Qadir told the local people that this is a good chance for them to stand on their own feet.
"There is rampant employment in the area. In this scenario the training opportunities such as provided by the Mercy Corps are of immense importance for the economic revival of the area. Particularly, the trained people will not be dependent on the government or any other agency for job rather these training will build the self-employment capacity of the people." He said that every participant of the training would get a certificate from the government.
The Mercy Corps would teach electricity, masonry and carpentry skills plumbing, over the next six months - skills useful during reconstruction.
More importantly, these skills will benefit more than 100,000 people living in these valleys for years to come, and provide incomes for the tradesmen.
An additional range of training is underway for different groups of women to help them improve their skills in livestock management and kitchen gardening. These skills will help them raise their families' incomes from selling milk and vegetables.
Other skills that will be taught include embroidery and fabric painting, and improved methods to increase crop yields and double cropping. Under the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) guidelines, the projects will co-operate with local government and Dosti Development Foundation, a local NGO.
"Our teams are there now explaining how this training will benefit people for long-term," says Jules Lang, Mercy Corps Director of Economic Development.