The children and women who first come to the centers after rescue are welcomed by our staff, including the head of the center, care taker, counselor, psychologist, and medical doctor. Several years ago, AFESIP Cambodia established a drop-in center in Phnom Penh to accommodate the women rescued by the police, but it closed in 2005 due to AFESIP's need to cooperate more closely with the government’s Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation. Now, when rescue operations are made, AFESIP Cambodia receives any victims who wish to stay and train at our centers. Those who do not consent to live and train with AFESIP can be in the charge of the ministry’s department itself.
AFESIP Cambodia projected 3 principal vocational skills training programs: sewing, hairdressing and weaving. AFESIP also provides training in important life skills.
Sewing Skills Training
A 12-18 month course (1365 hours or 273 days x 5h/day) is given to the residents. The residents/trainees are divided into different groups depending on their mental capacity, level of skill, understanding, and knowledge.
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New trainees practice their drawing and cutting skills on newspaper scraps
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The next step of sewing training involves the cutting of real cloth |
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| Residents test the speed of the sewing machines with the foot pedal as they use the machines for the first time |
Residents are proud of their new skills - they have fulfilled their dreams and become true seamstresses!
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The lessons offered are as follows :
- Introduction of sewing tools;
- Maintenance of sewing machine and cutting tools;
- The use of sewing machine and accessories;
- The cutting and sewing of a blouse;
- The cutting and sewing of a short and long skirt
- The cutting and sewing of trousers.
Sewing skills course is divided into 2 specializations :
- To become a Garment Factory worker (3-6 months course) and
- To become an Independent Seamstress (12-18 months course)
To become a Garment Factory worker (short course)
This is a short-term course. After finishing this course, a resident can become a worker at a garment factory. While she will not be master of the trade, she will be able to earn money to feed her family members in a shorter period of time.
The short course beneficiary
In the end of the training course, the resident may leave the center with the support of AFESIP Cambodia. The reintegration staff will find employment for her at the garment factory. She is given a bicycle, household utensils, a 3-month’s house rented fee and a 3-month food supply when she leaves the center.
To become an Independent Seamstress (Long course)
This is a 1365-hour course or a 273-day course (although the length of time may vary depending on the resident). During this long-term course, the seamstress-in-training lives at the center but has the opportunity for family visits either in her hometown or at the center itself.
Sewing training is technically complicated. Before embarking upon such training, the resident must first learn how to read, write, and calculate so that she is mentally prepared for her new work.
Hairdressing Skills Training
Hairdressing training is a 4-8 month course.
The lessons offered are as follows :
- Introduction of hairdressing and dress-making tools;
- Maintenance of hairdressing and dress-making tools;
- The use of hairdressing and dress-making material and equipment;
- Nail cleaning and decoration;
- Shampooing and cutting hair;
- Hair curling and styling;
- Dress-making and body care.
The hair-dressing shop is located near AFESIP's Tom Dy Center. The shop operation is not for profit but exists so that residents may practice their new hairdressing skills. It also welcomes clients for low-cost service. The trainer constantly monitors the trainees' work and offers suggestions for improvement.
Basic Weaving Skills Training
A basic weaving course from 6-10 months is given to the residents.
The lessons offered are as follows :
- Introduction of mat, scarf, silk weaving tools
- Maintenance of mat, scarf, silk weaving tools
- The use of mat, scarf, silk weaving tools
- The weaving of a small and large mat.
Life Skills Training :
In their spare time, Saturday and Sunday, our residents are offered
additional skills such making bracelets, necklaces, earrings, bows,
tablecloths, bags, handkerchiefs and different kinds of flowers.
The display of the handicrafts is seen in Tom Dy Center for the guests,
who may buy them as a way of offering donations.
Lessons on domestic violence, trafficking law, human rights, women’s and children’s rights, and morality are also part of life skills training.
Every day, five to six girls join the cookery at each center in order to
to learn additional skills from our domestic cooks.
The ultimate objective of AFESIP Cambodia's vocational skills training programs is to enable the beneficiaries to attain self-sufficiency and financial independence by providing residents with the opportunity to find employment or run their own business. Vocational training delivered by AFESIP Cambodia is directly linked to local market opportunities, the development of the country, and the wishes of the resident. It includes sewing, housekeeping, hairdressing, small business management,weaving, handicrafts, short courses on various income-generating trainings, and social work training with the potential for residents' future employment by AFESIP Cambodia.
