Marketable Skills Give Young Chechen Men a Future
For the community of Urus-Martan, Chechnya, unemployment is a grave issue. Unemployment rates in the republic have reached nearly 80 percent following two successive wars. Aslanbek Elmurzaev, who runs a factory producing building materials and serves as chair of the town’s Chamber of Commerce laments, “There are so many young men who have nothing to do once they have finished school.” With no opportunities, Elmurzaev says, these youth run the risk of getting involved in criminal activities, further destabilizing a community recovering from conflict.
Elmurzaev’s business has now joined forces with USAID-supported IRC to provide employment opportunities to young men with few chances. On a visit to his factory, Elmurzaev introduces Abadi, Shamil, Islam and Magomed. The shy young men found themselves with no opportunities to work or start further study after leaving school. Having heard about the courses being offered by IRC and its partner Patriot, the four applied and were admitted to the construction program.
Over two months, tutor Vakha Arsanov taught these young men and 11 others how to lay tiles, install plastic windows and walling, and construct the kiosks from which many small traders operate. However, there is only so much that can be learned in the classroom. Arsanov knew that practice experience was vital to his students’ ability to find work.
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Vakha and his students outside Aslanbek’s factory in Urus-Martan. The young men were able to practice their skills and are now finding they are in high demand throughout the district as reconstruction expands in Chechnya
Photo Credit: IRC |
Elmurzaev happily offered up space in his factory for the students to practice what they had learned. Arsanov shows the floor that where his students had practiced their tiling skills, and evidences their progress. At the far end, the floor is uneven and bumpy, but its surface gradually becomes flat and even, culminating in what would be considered a professional job.
Many would balk at the idea letting a group of unemployed young men loose on their factory floor, but Elmurzaev saw this as a win/win situation for all. “We really need skilled young people like these guys–there is so much demand for their skills. If they have nothing to do, it becomes a problem for the community”.
With reconstruction in Chechnya moving ahead, the business community is calling for more courses, according to Svetlana Tukaeva, IRC’s Vocational Training Program Manager. IRC regularly receives requests from local businesses for more students to be trained. The focus on practical skills makes the difference says Tukaeva, and has placed IRC graduates in great demand.
Vakha is so impressed with the progress of his former students that he is recommending them to people and even hiring them to work on his own jobs. Aslanbek also recommends the graduates to his customers who come to buy building supplies, and the team has already completed two jobs in the local area. This is really important Vakha explains, as word of mouth is the best advertising in the construction business. As their reputation grows, Vakha says, Abadi, Shamil, Islam, Magomed and their fellow graduates will get more and more work, giving these young men a real start in life as well as helping Chechnya move forward in its recovery.
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