Christian Initiative of Education for Sustainable Peace and Development (CIESPD) Vocational Training School

ISSUE:
CIESPD has discovered that many girls and women traumatized by the genocide and other forms of violence are choosing to turn to sex work to meet their daily needs. These women and girls are often responsible for providing for their children or siblings' basic needs and school fees alone. The trauma impacts their lack of self-worth, and without access to skill training and education necessary to obtain new jobs, they turn to prostitution as their only way to earn an income.

SOLUTION:
To reduce the vulnerability of orphans, youth and women, CIESPD offers alternative education programs in peace education, reconciliation, literacy, vocational training and entrepreneurship in catering and salon skills. The program works to:

• Promote the social transformation of prostitutes, street children and other vulnerable youth
• Give skills to ex-prostitutes, vulnerable children and youth, and women so that they can live without prostitution and street life
• Contribute to the emotional healing, peace and reconciliation of women, many of whom were raped and lost their family members due to the genocide and HIV/AIDS, through psycho-social support
• Support graduates with capacity building and the means to start a small sustainable business

IMPACT:
To date, CIESPD has provided training to 240 young people and is currently working to secure paid internships or micro loans to help their graduates start their own small enterprises. CIESPD estimates that 70 participants from the 2008 course and 50 from the 2009 course have already found fulltime employment following their internships. Another 51 participants have started their own businesses, primarily in salon work.