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Started in July 2006 and
funded by US-based Family Health International (FHI), this one-year
project provides vocational skills training, confidence-building
activities, and employment for recovering intravenous drug users (IDUs)
living in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka.
FHI is a leader among
nonprofit international public health organizations, managing
research and field activities to meet the public health needs of
some of the world’s most vulnerable people. In Bangladesh, FHI has
faced challenges in their treatment and rehabilitation program where
the rate of recidivism of rehabilitated IDUs is a staggering 90%.
One of the primary factors behind this high rate of relapse is the
inability of the recovering IDUs to find alternative income
generating activities that would remove them from their previous
environment.
Working
with existing FHI partner organizations that provide treatment and
rehabilitation, JOBS provides three types of training – basic
business skills training, entrepreneurship development training and
wage-based employment training. Throughout the training process,
the partner rehabilitation facilities offer post-rehabilitation
counseling sessions to facilitate the transition for participants.
Following the training, participants move to a residential unit
located in close proximity to private sector partner work-sites
where they receive further technical training and assume the role of
an employee. For a six (6) month period, participants receive
additional support and counseling to enable an effective transition
and at the close of this period are free to remain as employees at
the discretion of the employer or to leave for other employment
opportunities.
Objectives:
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Provide basic business
management training to 120 former injecting drug users (IDUs)
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Organize vocational
skills training for IDUs
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Provide a limited
program of advocacy and confidence-building activities
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Secure employment for
IDUs with a private sector partner
To date, JOBS has
partnered with Community Health, Rehabilitation, Education and
Awareness (CREA), Dhaka Ahsania Mission Rehabilitation center (DAM),
and APON Rehabilitation Center to identify participants and Folk
Bangladesh, Bengal Braided Rugs Limited and Apex Leathercrafts
Limited have led the way on the private sector side, providing
significant support as this unique pilot was developed and
implemented. |
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