HERAT (TOLONews): The Directorate of Labor and Social Affairs in Herat has announced that it has provided vocational training opportunities for 500 recovering addicts in the province.
These individuals are receiving specialized training in five fields to help them secure stable jobs after overcoming addiction and reintegrate into normal life.
Parwiz Mohammadi, a representative of the Herat Directorate of Labor and Social Affairs, stated: “These individuals are being trained in five professions: home appliance repair, bag-making, tailoring, shoemaking, and building electrical work. A total of 10 training classes have been established, with each profession having two classes. Each class consists of 50 rehabilitated individuals.”
Some of the trainees have urged the caretaker government to provide them with job opportunities after they complete their training.
Mohammad, one of the trainees, told TOLOnews: “We are learning skills here, and we hope to return home with the ability to earn a living.”
Arsalan, another trainee, said: “Once we leave here, we will have a skill, and we will no longer seek drugs.”
Faridun, who is participating in the tailoring course, remarked: “The tailoring skills I am learning here not only keep me away from drugs but also help me rebuild my home and life.”
Toryali, who is undergoing electrical appliance repair training, has turned his back on drugs after 12 years of addiction.
At 34 years old, he stated: “The skills I am learning here will help me build my future once I leave. I urge the authorities to fulfill their promises so that we can find work.”
Vocational training has given these young men hope for a better life and a path away from addiction. Their ultimate goal is to return to the lives they had before their struggles with substance abuse.
Abdul Rahim Saeedi, an instructor, said: “These individuals have been marginalized by society, but they are eager to learn new skills and strive to regain their dignity and former status.”
Currently, nearly 4,000 individuals are undergoing treatment at a specialized addiction rehabilitation hospital in Herat. Unemployment and economic hardships have been cited as the primary factors driving many of these individuals toward drug use.
