As part of the COVID-19 response to affected migrant workers including returnees, FAIRWAY in Ethiopia has a plan to provide market-oriented vocational skills training to 500 returnee migrant workers. At the first stage, total of 220 returnee migrant workers were enrolled in seven different trades of their choice. Out of 220 returnees enrolled in different vocational skills trainings in Amhara, Oromia and Addis Ababa regions, 90% are women. These vocational trainings are managed by a CSO partner collaborating with private Technical Education and Vocational Training institutions accredited by competent authorities.  

Recently, 44 women returnee migrant workers completed skills training in food preparation (24 returnees) and haircutting/dressing (20 returnees) trades. Those trainings were organized in the training centre manage by the CSO partner itself in Dukem City, Oromia region, Ethiopia. On 18 July 2022, the partner organized a graduation ceremony to celebrate the completion of the trainings and provide certificate to the trainees who have successfully completed the trainings. The graduation ceremony was attended by Deputy Mayor of the city administration Ms. Feria Aliyi; Deputy Head of Oromia Regional Bureau of Labour and Skills, Mr. Bayisa Kuma; Head of Women, Children and Social Affairs Office, Ms. Meselech Tilahune and other concerned government offices in the city.    

During the graduation ceremony, Deputy Mayor and other government officials appreciated ILO and CSO partner's efforts to provide such important support to the returnee migrant workers that certainly helps the returnees for their sustainable reintegration into the community rather than prompting re-migration. The officials congratulating the graduates for successfully completing skills training on food preparation and hairdressing/beautician trades, urged the trainees to fully use the skills they have obtained for their own and family's economic well-being. They also urged the graduates that their respective offices will be happy to provide services and facilitate the process as per respective responsibilities to start their self-employment activities based on the skills they obtained.

After the graduation ceremony, all the guests and graduates were invited for a lunch where the dishes were prepared by the trainees of food preparation training.

Likewise, a private training provider collaborating with the CSO partner also organized a mega-graduation ceremony for its vocational skills training graduates from Addis Ababa City on 16 July 2022. More than 1,300 trainees took part in that graduation ceremony where 69 returnee migrant workers (82% women) supported by FAIRWAY also celebrated their graduation. During the graduation ceremony, the trainees showcased their skills which they obtained from the trades such as tailoring/dressmaking, haircutting/hairdressing including individual skills of music and dance. This mega-graduation ceremony provided the returnee migrant workers supported by FAIRWAY, opportunity to assimilate with larger group and to develop their confidence on market-competition in the skills they are trained in.