April 13, 2023
Stories
Diyari Salam, a 24-year-old female from Kirkuk, has long wanted to find a reliable job to support her family financially. She lives with her sick mother and four siblings, the father left them without any support. She applied to many places after graduation but had not found a job. Yet, she found the kind of work she wanted the most after participating in the On-the-Job Training project organised by Caritas Czech Republic in Iraq. Thanks to the training, Diyari has a job she likes and an income to cover her family's expenses.
It matters to feel comfortable in your job
Diyari graduated three years ago from the Kirkuk University College of Mechanical Engineering. Like many other graduates in Iraq, Diyari did not get an opportunity in the public sector. Despite her intense search, she could not find a permanent job. “I tried working in different places, but every time, I left it after one or two weeks because I didn’t feel comfortable,” says Diyari. She stayed home three years after graduation and used this time to help her mother with housework and her siblings with school homework.
Diyari wanted an office-based job, and now she got one, thanks to Caritas Czech Republic. After her sister shared a link with her on social media to register for the On-the-Job Training project, Diyari’s life was never the same. She and her sister -Daron- got accepted in training for different sectors, and Diyari managed to secure a permanent job in the glass factory she received training in.
Diyari is now the breadwinner of her family
In Iraq, you rarely see a female working in a factory or a location outside the city, but Diyari has different thoughts: “I feel very comfortable here, and I like my job very much, they are professional and treat all employees very well.”
Diyari has been working in the glass factory for more than four months. Besides her growth and development in work skills, she is now more confident and taking on financial responsibility for her family. “Now I can take care of my mother’s medical needs, it’s a very nice feeling to have an income to allow you to provide your family with the support they need,” says Diyari.
She encourages young graduates to maintain hope and keep looking for opportunities and calls for more projects of this kind for Kirkuk City to support youth.
The On-the-Job Training project is implemented by UNDP Iraq in partnership with Caritas Czech Republic in Iraq. The project aimed to integrate 250 young graduates with private sectors in Kirkuk City to reduce unemployment and introduce fresh graduates to the job market.
