Vocational Training Centre

The Vocational Training Centre (VTC) is operated by the Organisation of Promoting Afghan Women’s Capabilities (OPAWC) in one of the poorest areas of Kabul. It has been funded by SAWA-Australia (SA) Inc since its inception in 2008.

The VTC has continued to offer vocational and literacy classes to hundreds of Afghan women and girls who, for many reasons, had been denied access to formal education.
The overall investment in this project is based on the understanding that such classes empower women and girls to gain formal education and skills to earn an income.

Initially, the Centre offered mainly literacy classes, but with increased funding over the years, vocational training classes in tailoring and handicrafts have been added to meet the interests and requirements of the women and girls. Since 2020, with the help of generous donations from SAWA supporters, the VTC is now also offering English language and computing classes.

Ongoing political turmoil and continuous wars with the Taliban and ISIS have resulted in economic instability and increasing poverty in Afghanistan. The women at the VTC, many of whom are the breadwinners in their families, recognise the importance of vocational training to enable them to earn and income.

Vocational Training is provided in tailoring and embroidery.

The new plan has two parts:

Vocational Training

This is the beginning phase where women get training through two programs:

Tailoring

A master tailor and a professional designer are employed to teach sewing skills and production. Four training classes for approximately 160 students each year are divided into various categories, depending on skill levels.
The younger girls learn the basics of tailoring, while the more experienced women learn how to make traditional Afghan dresses, pant suits and coats.

Embroidery

Two embroidery workshops at VTC are equipped with embroidery machines, enabling women to learn how to make handicraft items.

Trainers understand the local market and have many years’ experience in this field.

Production Workshop

In the early years, after receiving training, the women were left to set up and manage their own business at home. Some were successful in setting up small tailoring shops, but they often had difficulty in finding customers and maintaining a business.

The VTC has now allocated a large room in the basement as a production workshop where skilled women are assisted in making garments and handicraft items, using machines and equipment owned by the Centre.
Up to 80 women can work simultaneously, with the designer and master tailor supervising their work.

Orders are received from vendors outside the centre and the products sold in shops and markets. The goal of the workshop is for the women to share in the sales profits.

Literacy Program

Many Afghan women never have access to formal education and therefore cannot read or write. The VTC’s literacy classes provide basic literacy skills and assist students, especially young girls, to continue their education after graduating from the VTC.

Many former students have benefitted from this training and have become educated and independent.

English language and Computing classes

SAWA-Australia (SA) Inc sought advice from the Directors of the VTC regarding additional needs and interests of the women and girls at the Centre. For many, employment opportunities depend on some knowledge of the English language and/or skills in computing.

With the assistance of donors, SAWA provided additional funds for the purchase of computers and the employment of specialist teachers in these areas. The VTC is excited to provide these classes on an ongoing basis.

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