Announcement

Kunar Construction Center Prepares Skilled Workers to Rebuild Afghanistan

Asadabad, Afghanistan  | Sunday, February 15, 2009

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Kunar Construction Center Graduates.

Developing Afghanistan’s economy requires skilled workers who are equipped to construct and repair homes, offices, and stores.  To address this need, the Kunar Construction Center (jointly funded by USAID and CERP) opened in March 2008 to provide formal vocational training in carpentry, masonry, electrical work, and painting.  On January 18th, the center graduated its third class of 116 young tradesmen from eastern Afghanistan and provided them with tool sets appropriate for their specialties.

Local construction companies, which have difficulty finding skilled workers, visited a job fair for the graduates following the ceremony.  Currently, the demand for skilled graduates exceeds the supply, and all graduates were offered full-time employment.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Kunar Governor Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi expressed his belief that the center’s graduates would play a key role in eastern Afghanistan’s economic development.  "Before, we were going to Pakistan for goods like furniture. Now we have more skilled and educated workers that can build it here in Kunar," he said.

USAID/Afghanistan Bi-weekly Highlights Double Issue: 1/16/2009-2/15/2009 2/15/2009