Meron Kifle is a 13 years old boy who is receiving training as auto-electrician at the Harat Garage in Asmara. He is the youngest of all the trainees. One can easily see the eagerness and the desire Meron has for knowledge—he enjoys the vocational training tremendously. He trains in the morning and goes to school in the afternoon. He has been training for 6 months.

“I am learning a lot from the training and would like to continue working here after completing the courses,” said Meron, who is now a 5th grade student at Dahlak Junior School in Asmara.

Meron is only one of the many street children who are getting training in various organizations through the help of the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare. The children are trained in several fields that include general mechanics, electronics, auto-electricity, wood and metal works, among others.

Ato Tahir Beshir, counselor and supervisor of the vocational trainees at the Ministry’s branch in Zoba Maekel, said that there are 222 children on training and around 515 on the waiting list. It is a two-year training program that mainly aims to prevent the disadvantaged children from going to the streets. The trainees are between the age of 13 and 22.

According to Tahir, some 316 street children have already graduated in the last three years after taking similar trainings, and are now working in different organizations depending upon their training.

Street children are of different categories. Some live and work on the streets but do not live with their families. Others return home at night, but work independently during the day. And still some maintain their family contacts, but are forced to spend most of their time on the streets and return home once in a while to spend a night with their family.

Tahir says more than 50 percent of them live only with their mothers. Parents of street children are preoccupied with earning a living, usually engaged in irregular low-paying jobs, like vendors and scavengers.

These children are valuable members of society. They need access to counseling, information, knowledge, skills, and a supportive community that protects them from harm. The help should move the children off the street; give them an opportunity to prepare themselves for a better future.

“Street children become self-supporting and productive only when we help them realize their potential, and thereby ensure a bright future,” said Tahir. “It is with this in mind that the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare is trying to make a difference in the lives of these children by providing training to prepare them for the future.”

Helen Michael is one of the street children who are receiving vocational training at Arag Wood and Metal Workshop in Asmara. “I have been here for seven months and had training on woodwork; now I can construct desks, cupboards, and stuff like that,” Helen said. “We are benefiting in two ways: on the one hand we get the training that helps us in the future, on the other hand they give us pocket money which we couldn’t have found in the streets.”

The Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare gives the children some 300-400 Nakfa per month as pocket money while they are on training. In addition to the pocket money, they are given coveralls and shoes for their work, and have insurance coverage.

After completing their training they are employed in different organizations and ministries. Tahir says, “Many of them become successful individuals after graduation. In fact, I know one who has gone all the way to become the vice-executive officer of an organization.”

Helen, who just turned 18 and who is an 8th grade student, says, “We understand the amount of money the government is spending to train us, and we hope to pay back our debts after completing our courses.”

Tahir also advices the children that they should take advantage of the skills they acquire, and that they should be able to support themselves and their families in the future.