A New Hope Against All Odds in Life.

Ismail Mohamed, a 35-year-old resident of Baidoa, is a participant in the TVET training program funded by KOICA and implemented by IOM. Coming from a modest and vulnerable household that relies on informal labor to meet daily needs, Ismail is deeply aware of the challenges faced by unskilled and unemployed individuals—particularly women in culturally restrictive environments that limit their economic potential.

Despite these hardships, Ismail remained determined to find a path toward empowerment and employability. His perseverance led him to enroll in the first cycle of the IOM TVET training program. Reflecting on his experience, he shares

My life changed for the better when I was accepted into the six-month competency-based Tailoring and Garment Making course at Ajmal Technical TVET Center, supported by IOM through KOICA funding. The training not only equipped me with practical tailoring skills but also helped me build the capacity needed to pursue decent employment.

Ismail aspires to complete the course and launch his own tailoring business, aiming to earn a stable income and support his struggling family. He expresses heartfelt gratitude to IOM, KOICA, and the TVET initiative for providing him with the opportunity to gain valuable skills and actively engage in the labor market.

^{Ismail who was initially trained at Ajmal had opened his own business and earned his daily bread in the labor market.}