People In Need's Training programmeto develop jobs skills

People In Need (PIN), jointly with Jobsnet recently completed a Diploma programme in Project Management and Civil Technology focused on developing candidates' job skills in high needs areas within the Sri Lankan labour market.

Most of beneficiaries of this eight-month programme have successfully found employment in various NGOs and private companies. The programme is one of PIN's education-related activities in Sri Lanka that has received funding through the "SOS Sri Lanka" public collection campaign in the Czech Republic.

The Project Management programme trained the participating students through a combination of lectures, discussions, group work, presentations and field visits.

The programme's impact and relevance were immediately apparent: 23 out of the 34 trainees from the Project Management section were hired in the NGO sector and 7 out of the 23 trainees from the Civil Technology programme found jobs in related fields.

The successful candidates were awarded their diplomas during a ceremony at the Trincomalee Town Hall in early January 2008.

Ondrej Zapletal, PIN's Head of Operations, Jabeer, Jobsnet's Regional Manager and Naguleswarampillai, Assistant Commissioner of Labour, presided.

Jobsnet's desire to start the initiative began after a 2005 survey conducted by a local labour organisation revealed that 35% of the vacancies in the NGOs and private sectors were either in construction or community development programmes.

Jobsnet contacted several international NGOs and Foundations to collaborate with them on implementing the project. In the end, People In Need decided to provide the necessary funding to make the project possible.

During the ceremony, Naguleswarampillai stated that "this is an exciting occasion in the history of Jobsnet, because job placements have been definitely assured for all of the participants in future."