By Fatima Khaled
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – After returning from Lebanon last year, Ismail Mustafa searched extensively for a job. It did not matter what kind of job, as all he wanted was a job that could provide him with some income to support his family. Despite learning a profession in Lebanon, he didn’t have enough funds to start his own business.
Ismail Mustafa, a 35-year-old resident of Raqqa, had searched for a job for a long time. Luckily, he was offered to enroll in a training program by a local NGO committed to creating job opportunities.
Mustafa enrolled in the training program provided by People in Need, a local organization operating in Raqqa. Alongside other participants, he received training in the barbering profession, leveraging his previous experience in the field.
The program lasted for 20 days, during which Mustafa received thorough training on the fundamentals of barbering from specialized trainers. Upon successfully completing the course, the organization provided Mustafa with funds to support him in starting his work.
Job creation programs
NGOs in Raqqa play a vital role in providing education and training for young people. They focus on developing skills and expanding job opportunities by offering comprehensive training programs and providing support, including grants, for small-scale projects.
DOZ-Syria is a prominent local NGO that has made significant contributions in supporting young individuals. It organizes educational and vocational training programs, led by a team of specialists, with the primary objective of creating employment opportunities. Moreover, it provides grants to assist young people in launching their own small projects.
Ibrahim al-Muhammad, a 24-year-old resident of Raqqa, is one of the beneficiaries of the NGO’s training projects. He underwent a training course at one of the organization’s centers for six months.
Al-Muhammad informed North Press that he submitted the necessary documents to the NGO following its announcement regarding training courses for individuals interested in pursuing employment opportunities in small-scale projects.
He completed a six-month training program, spending three months at the training center to learn the theoretical aspects of the profession he had enrolled in. Subsequently, he spent another three months in the market, acquiring the necessary skills for his project, which included repairing mobile phones, electrical appliances, and selling them.
Upon completing the training, the organization provided him with a grant to open a shop in his place of residency in the town of Jazrah, west of Raqqa.
Private work
Hussein al-Shahab, a protection facilitator at DOZ-Syria, said that the organization has been working for two years to provide support for small-scale projects as part of the Livelihoods Project.
He added to North Press that these projects targeted a number of young males and females in several batches. The first batch included 247 applicants, while the second and third batches included 130 applicants each. These batches have been part of the project since its inception in Raqqa two years ago.
Trainees receive comprehensive professional training, life skills courses, and valuable guidance on navigating the job market.
After completing the course, they receive practical training in workshops and shops for a period of three months, al-Shahab noted.
He further explained that the organization provides a grant up to $700 to the beneficiaries, divided into two installments. Half of the grant is given after completing the theoretical training at the organization’s center, while the remaining half is handed upon the completion of the practical training period.
Fahed al-Hamoud, a 19-year-old resident of Raqqa, is undergoing vocational training at DOZ organization.
He has completed the theoretical training period and has now started the practical training at a plumbing workshop in Raqqa.
Al-Hamoud told North Press that he aims to start his own project after completing the training depending on the grant provided by the organization.
Gaps in NGOs’ work
There are many organizations operating in Raqqa that implement various projects that work on promoting social cohesion, providing sustainable employment opportunities, supporting small-scale projects, and rebuilding the city’s infrastructure.
However, there is a lack of coordination and networking between the organizations themselves. Many of the projects they implement are similar and not adequately planned, often serving a limited segment of the population, according to Bassem al-Karim, an employee in a local NGO operating in northeastern Syria.
Al-Karim further stated that identical projects continue to take place within the same area by many organizations. Furthermore, even the same organization may repeat the same project multiple times, targeting the same beneficiaries.
There is insufficient follow-up and monitoring after project completion to ensure that the projects have achieved their intended goals or that the beneficiaries have effectively utilized the financial grants to establish their own projects, rather than diverting them to other needs, he noted.
Al-Karim further explained that local NGOs often operate within limited budgets and heavily rely on external funding sources, which can pose challenges for their long-term sustainability and impede their ability to effectively fulfill their mission.
He noted that some local NGOs may lack proper governance structures and accountability mechanisms, creating concerns about mismanagement of funds, lack of transparency in decision-making, and a loss of trust within the local community.