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Adult Education
Unemployment is one of the major hurdles to all ethnic minority and community development programmes. Shortage in compatible skills is the main factor blamed for the high unemployment in ethnic minorities. Many refugees and asylum seekers arrive in the UK with poor education background and they make little or no use from courses provided by the mainstream institution unless they first go through tailored training provided in culturally sensitive environments and with intensive language support by multilingual tutors.
To address these issues, Alhijra Somali Community organizes specially designed training in basic ESOL and IT courses. The basic conditions for employment are the ability to speak and communicate well in English. Additional Language support is given to those who cannot join mainstream training programs owing to language barriers. Such courses act as the first foothold and encourage people to join and progress into further education in the mainstream providers. Somali women are naturally talented in running small enterprises. Dressmaking and fashion design courses are organized for groups of Somali women and are expected to have a foreseeable impact on the employability of beneficiaries. Women are encouraged into self-employment schemes and to form community cooperative enterprises. Beneficiaries of dressmaking courses are expected to be given a chance to attend a short one-day workshop on business start-up. The training courses are accompanied by careers advice and guidance services.
Disabled people and mothers with young children are particularly encourages to take part in our training courses and necessary facilities like accessibility and children are made available.
