Somalia has been without central government since 1991. The social institutions collapsed and the rate of unemployment stands the highest point. The youth are the most affected ones in the continuing conflict in Somalia.
In 2009 INTERSOS crated a Vocational Training Center in Jowhar, to response the youth at risk, providing free courses of carpentry, tailoring and computer skills.

Fadamo Mohamed, an internally displaced, tells her past and fortunes with skills training provided by INTERSOS.

I was born in Walaweyn, Lower Shabelle of Somalia. I have been displaced and have been living in Jowhar as Internally Displaced Person since 2006. My father died and I am the eldest daughter of seven children. Our life was despair and no one supported us as our mother raised us through the little money paid her on garbage collection from Jowhar town.

I was lucky to get the chance to attend the Vocational Training in Jowhar in 2010 and received six month training on tailoring skills. Besides the training, I was given a sewing machine after graduated from the school. This enabled me to start my own business by operating with the sewing machine in the IDP village where I lived. Slowly, my skills of sewing improved and perfected, attracting many customers from the nearby villages. My income ranged between $2 - $3 daily making monthly incomes of $60 - $90. I started only sewing clothes in the first time but later started buying some materials and making some new clothes for ready sale.

My life has changed since I started the self employment. My mother no longer collects home caring my other younger children. Despite the sky rocking food prices, still our life is stable and far better than the previous one. I make monthly saving of twenty dollars and I am planning to expand my business by renting a room at the center of the town and make ready-use-clothes for sales.

I owe countless gratitude for the school teachers and management, INTERSOS and the other well-wishers that felt our needs and agony and reached us in time.

INTERSOS established Vocational Training Center (VTC) in Jowhar 2009 and a total of 787 students, 42% of girls have graduated.  A total of 340 students, 50% girls are currently attending carpentry, tailoring, business administration, and computer skills training in Jowhar Vocational Training Center (VTC). The income of graduated students has increased for 4.5 %( Impact Assessment Report, April 2011). The VTC beneficiaries include survivors (girls) of gender based violence and other protection related issues.