May 28, 2023
Stories
Aland, Ahmed, Mostafa, Omar, and Mo’men are all fresh young graduates from Kirkuk, Iraq, who participated in Caritas Czech Republic’s project and received two months of on-the-job training. Later they were hired by the same company they received their training from. These five young men are now working in their profession, thanks to Caritas Czech Republic.
When one door closes, another one opens
Aland Fareidoon is a 23-year-old electrical engineer from Kirkuk Governorate. He graduated two years ago from the Kirkuk University. After graduation, he started working at Kirkuk University for one year, and then looked for a job opportunity where he could pursue his profession as an electrical engineer. Unfortunately, his search for a job did not yield results until he registered online for the on-the-job training programme with Caritas Czech Republic in Iraq. Now, he finally has the job he has been dreaming of.
“I am designing transformers here with my other two colleagues,” says Aland, and adds that the designing takes more than two weeks and is very complicated. After the two weeks, they transfer the designs to reality using various techniques and machines.
“None of the family members expected this discipline from me,” says Aland. This training helped him organise his life, learning, discovering, and implementing new techniques daily. In addition, he now has a permanent contract with the company he received training from. Aland tells the young graduates, “Do not search for jobs only to make money, but look for something that you enjoy so you can be creative in it.”
A good job helps you determine your goals
Ahmed Rifat is a 26-year-old electrical engineer from Kirkuk Governorate. He graduated last year from Kirkuk University, and like other graduates, searched for job opportunities, but his chances were minimal. After participating in the on-the-job training organised by Caritas Czech Republic, he managed to secure a permanent job, plan better for his future, and put long-term goals. He thinks that a job is essential to determine one's goal in life. "When unemployed, one tends to overanalyse every aspect, contemplating about the future: What awaits me? How can I provide for my family?" said Ahmed.
Ahmed advises young people to diversify the sources of searching for a job, reach out to people and build connections.
Working in your professional field helps you convert theories into real-work practice
Mostafa Hassan is a 22-year-old electrical engineer from Kirkuk. He lives with his two siblings and parents. Like the others, he graduated last year and could not get a chance to enter the job market. However, after registering to participate in the two months internship opportunities with Caritas Czech Republic, he secured a place in the internship followed by a permanent job as an electric engineer.
“My disorganised sleep now is very organised,” says Mostafa. This job has profoundly impacted various aspects of Mostafa's life. For instance, he can now translate what he learned in theory at university into practical work in the field. Moreover, he has gained valuable insights into the challenges that arise during the implementation process and has been able to find effective solutions to these problems. He advises engineers to value the practical aspect of education as much as they value theoretical knowledge.
It is not always easy to organise your life without having a purpose
Omar Ibrahim is a 24-year-old electric engineer from Kirkuk. He lives with a family of six and graduated from university last year. After completing his studies, Omar found himself facing an unexpected challenge. Despite his qualifications, he could not find a job in his field. He decided to apply for the on-the-job training project organised by Caritas Czech Republic, which connected Omar to potential employers seeking skilled professionals like him.
“I am feeling better psychologically, and my life is much better organised after I started working here,” said Omar. He is now in a field of expertise as an electrical engineer and secured a permanent job with the company he received his training from. Lastly, he encourages young professionals to continue despite the challenges and difficulties.
A job will help you break the routine and plan your life better
Momen Noori is a 23-year-old technology technician from Kirkuk. After graduating from the Technical Institute, he tried to work in different sectors and countries. Yet, all jobs were seasonal, and he could not find a reliable job and found himself trapped in a monotonous cycle of daily routines - sleep, going out, and eating.
Momen participated in the two-month internship organised by Caritas Czech Republic and managed to secure a permanent job after. He no longer had to rely on seasonal jobs or temporary work. Caritas Czech Republic had supported him in becoming self-sufficient, shattering the doubts and negativity that surrounded him. People who once told him he would never succeed were proven wrong. Momen is now engaged to the girl he loves and working in the field of his profession. “Work hard and improve your skills,” said Momen to encourage young professionals.
The on-the-job training project is implemented by Caritas Czech Republic in partnership with UNDP Iraq, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development provided through the German Development Bank. It targeted 250 young graduates in Kirkuk Governorate in Iraq to integrate them with the private sector.
