Workers in Gia Lai learn a trade to confidently escape poverty

Become a car repair shop owner through apprenticeship

Coming to Glar commune, Dak Doa district, asking about the house of Gia Min (born in 1996), the owner of a welding and agricultural vehicle repair shop, there is no one who does not know.

Before, Min's life was difficult, during the harvest season he worked for hire. While working, he also tried to fix broken machines and farm vehicles of the villagers.

According to Mr. Min, repair work has been his passion and love since he was a child, but unfortunately he did not have a formal education.

"Fortunately, in 2023, the Dak Doa District Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center opened a free small-capacity machine repair class for local people," said Gia Min.

The class attracted more than 30 students from ethnic minority areas, most of them of working age. Under the roof of the community, the teacher devoted himself to teaching and providing practical training to Gia Min and other students for more than 2 months.

With good skills and knowledge about welding and machine structure, Gia Min discussed with his wife about investing in opening a small-capacity machine repair workshop for the people.

Because here, every harvest season, people in Glar village often use farm vehicles as an important means of transporting goods. Meanwhile, many vehicles are flooded, dry of oil, and have broken engines...

Mr. Gia Min said: “On average, my workshop repairs 1-2 tractors per week. The repair time usually takes half a month to a month, and the labor cost is from 15-18 million VND/truck. People often need welders to reinforce the steel bars to carry more agricultural products securely.”

Currently, the income from Mr. Min's factory is the dream of many families in Glar village, who live all year round on slash-and-burn farming, selling coffee, rice, and noodles.

With money, Mr. Min and his family have a comfortable life. The house is fully equipped with a television, refrigerator, motorbike... and the children can go to school like everyone else.

The village chief is also enthusiastic about learning the trade.

Mr. Sing (born in 1982, Head of Village 1, Glar Commune) is an active and enthusiastic farmer. When there was a free vocational training class organized by the Dak Doa District Vocational Education - Continuing Education Center in the village, he went to encourage young people and poor workers to be interested in going to school.

“I tell people, manual labor and strength will only be enough to eat. Working with the skills you learn will be enough to support your whole family and more.

Without proficient welding, sewing, and knitting skills, companies and factories will find it difficult to hire local workers," said Mr. Sing.

In addition to exercising, Mr. Sing also diligently attends vocational classes and reads more documents and books at night. During the coffee season, Mr. Sing and his wife go to work on the fields, and during the day he joins a group of local workers to weld and repair people's houses and construction works in the commune.

Mr. Bui Quang Thoai - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Glar Commune, Dak Doa District - said that vocational training classes for rural and mountainous workers are meaningful, humane and effective programs.

Vocational classes help rural workers improve their skills and knowledge for practice.

Vocational classes have trained subjects that are suitable for current market trends. When ensuring skills, workers have the opportunity to find jobs and increase their income.

Construction projects of basic infrastructure, irrigation, transportation, housing, etc. mostly require skilled workers, even willing to pay high salaries.

"The class, although only 3 short months, has opened a bright and long-term door for the people of Glar village, contributing to stabilizing the local economic and social life," Mr. Thoai added.