“First Step” Vocational Training Programme is completed

The vocational training program “First Step” is successfully completed. More than 300 people from Third Countries (Third Country Nations) – refugees, asylum seekers and migrants – took part in the program aimed at facilitating their integration in the labor market in Cyprus.

The duration of the project was 18 months. It started on February 1st, 2019 and concluded in September 2020.

The training courses included two phases: Phase A’ (36 hours) training on employment policies and legislation, soft skills development and professional development skills, whilst Phase B’ (120 hours) included vocational training courses on a specific profession: food safety and health, basic customer service and sales principles, logistics, hotel and leisure management, basic accounting principles/cash till). Supplementary English language lessons (21 hours) facilitated the participation of the participants in the two training phases.

The project awarded a scholarship to Widad Al Banna, a recognized refugee from Palestine, at the European University of Cyprus.

Those interested may visit the website and watch the video of participants and educators’ experiences at http://www.firststep.com.cy/gallery/video/

“First Step” is co-funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Republic of Cyprus. It’ s a pilot project implemented for the first time in Cyprus and will serve as best practice for similar projects in the near future and namely during the new Multiannual Program of the AMIF (2021 – 2027).

(EK/SCH)

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