Trainees in Gemstones Semi-processing Graduated in Addis Ababa
The Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE) had project closing and graduation ceremony in Addis Ababa, on May 31, 2016 in the presence of the First Lady H.E. Roman Tesfaye, H.E. Kazuhiro Suzuki, Ambassador Embassy of Japan, Ms. Kati Casaba, Ministry Counselor and Senior (Development) Director at the Embassy of Canada, Ato Asfaw Abebe, Acting Director of the Federal Small and Medium Manufacturing Industry Development Agency (FSMMIDA).
The Office of the First Lady of Ethiopia, the project owner, the Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE), the implementing organization and the Government of Canada, the funding organization have successfully concluded part of the project “Connecting 1,500 Women & Young Girls to the Export Market” that directly benefited Thirty seven (37) young women in two training sites. The first round skills training targeted Amhara Region, Bahirdar Town, where this training was given from January 29 to March 31, 2015. The second round skill training in gemstones semi-processing was given for five months (September 29, 2015 to February 29, 2016).
During the graduation ceremony, remarks were delivered by Ato Asfaw Abebe, Acting Director of the Federal Small and Medium Manufacturing Industry Development Agency, Ms. Kati Casaba, Ministry Counselor and Senior (Development) Director at the Embassy of Canada, Representatives of Trainees and W/ro Bethlehem Berhane, Owner & Manager, Entoto Beth Artisan, a Social Enterprise that took a lead role in employing those graduates.
The training was made possible by the financial support from the Government of Canada and the joint efforts made by the concerned partners and stakeholders. The financial support from the Government of Canada targeted to reach one hundred fifty (150), where it was possible to accomplish that, in providing marketable skills to those women (in Addis Ababa: 12 in Gemstones Semi-processing and 13 in Fabric Dyeing& Manual Screen Printing; in Amhara Region, Baherdar Town: 50 in Basketryand 25 in Gemstone Semi- processing and in Axsum 50 in Basketry).
Focusing on the graduation of the trainees in gemstones semi-processing in Addis Ababa which took place on May 31, 2016, trainees received certificates of graduation from the First Lady, H. E. Roman Tesfaye to commemorate the completion of their training.
In concluding the graduation ceremony, H.E. Roman Tesfaye, delivered her closing remarks, underlining that each of the stakeholders have obligations in further replicating such an initiative, where she stressed that the concerned Government partners in this respect have major roles expected to play. In closing, the First Lady gave her vote of thanks to all the partners and stakeholders that were involved during the implementation process of this part of the project.
As part of the graduation ceremony, mini-exhibition, where exporting companies exhibited their value-added gemstones jewelry was visited by the guests of honor and all the invited guest.
