Benin city - From 8 to 10 August 2024, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Society for the Empowerment of Young Persons (SEYP) provided vocational skills trainings) to a total of 44 beneficiaries(18M;26F) The Society for the Empowerment of Young Persons (SEYP) provided practical training on Hair and Weave Production, Costume and Makeup, Catering and Event Management as well as Soap and Perfume Making under the Return and Reintegration Assistance for Migrants and Governments project funded by the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).  

The three-day trainings, delivered by certified trainers who have completed the "Start & Improve Your Business (SIYB)" program by the International Labour Organization (ILO) also included psychotherapy sessions for the returnees by the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) team. The training focused on giving the beneficiaries practical skills and in-depth knowledge about how to start and scale-up their businesses and award them with proficiency certifications. Acquiring these skills and engaging in productive activities makes them economically self-reliant, boosting their self-esteem and confidence which supports their reintegration. The vocational training also helps the returnees rebuild their social networks by interacting with peers and trainers which can foster a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation and stigma that returnees often face.  

"Our objective is to empower young people through skills training and transform them to be people of honour and stand for their rights to bring positive changes to their community’’ said Ms. Omo-ero Victoria, Executive Director of the Society for the Empowerment of Young Persons (SEYP). 

The vocational skills training covered topics such as techniques for producing hair weaves, wigs, and other hair accessories, makeup artistry, and related services for events. Culinary skills, catering services such as cake making, and pastries. Production techniques for soaps, perfumes, and other related personal care products.  

 “What we have learned here will be beneficial not to us alone but to our families and communities. We can confidently call ourselves leaders and we shall demonstrate this in our communities to also empower other young people” said John Onaghama, a beneficiary of the program. “This opportunity has helped us realize our dreams and turn them into reality, we are grateful to IOM and SEYP for this support” he added.  

In her remarks, the Executive Director of SEYP further stated; ‘’We are happy for our partnership with IOM in this project as the empowerment of young women and men is what we believe in our organization’’.  

The vocational skills training was funded by the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).   

For more information, please contact Francois-Xavier Ada, Public Information Officer. Email: fadaaffana@iom.int