The sixth-round graduation ceremony for the rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances at the BahirDar program office was held on Monday, August 29, 2022, at Unison Hotel, Bahir Dar.

The sixth-round graduation ceremony for the rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances at the BahirDar program office was held on Monday, August 29, 2022, at Unison Hotel, Bahir Dar. In his welcoming remark, Mr. Mulugeta Gebru, CEO of JeCCDO stated that Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization (JeCCDO) has been engaged in developmental initiatives.

since its establishment in 1985.  This rehabilitation program is part of JeCCDO’s Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Protection of Women and Girls in Commercial Sex Work project in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia. The overall goal of the project is to enable target girls and women to get out of the commercial sex industry and engage themselves in safe, productive, and socially acceptable livelihood activities/means of living.

REHABILITATION PROGRAM.

Under this rehabilitation program, women and girls who have been forced to become commercial sex workers are given vocational training to equip them with skills to set up small businesses and start a new life. The rehabilitation comprises psychosocial support to help them recover from sexual exploitation, different types of addiction, and traumatizing experiences they have gone through. In the sixth round of the training program, a total of 89 women graduated after four months of comprehensive training at the rehabilitation center, and vocational skill training. The targeted women training in food preparation, hairdressing, tailoring, running small shops, sheep breeding and herding and poultry production, embroidery, and laundry service. Besides, targets were provided psychosocial counseling and medical rehabilitation services. Åsa Andersson, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden
in Addis Ababa High-level government officials including Baye Alebachew, Deputy Mayor of City of Bahir Dar City Administration Fitehanegest Bezabih, spokesperson of Bahir Dar City Council and other relevant stakeholders attended the commencement ceremony.

During the event, graduates presented poetry and artistic performances portraying their previous life and experiences. A performance report and major achievements of the project were also presented. Following the presentation, participants of the event had a brief discussion highlighting building collaboration to further strengthen JeCCDO’s initiatives. At the end of the graduation ceremony, graduates received their certificates from honorable guests, and a financial award was given to six outstanding and successful women who were trained in different skills training and engaged in a range of business activities.

PICTURES FROM THE EVENT