Jakarta, Indonesia-Relief -- The
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Chevron Corporation
are offering scholarships to over 300 Acehnese youth, aged 18-22, to attend
three-month vocational skill-building courses in Caltex Polytechnic in
neighboring province of Riau.
''These scholarships will help youth
sharpen the skills needed to engage in the reconstruction of tsunami stricken
communities,'' US Embassy in Jakarta said in a statement on Monday.
On August 14, the second group of 75 students arrived at Politeknik Caltex Riau in Pekanbaru to study computer applications, welding and bookkeeping. The first group of 60 participants arrived in Pekanbaru on July 17 to study building construction and electric wiring installation.
The students will be mentored by professional and specialized trainers at Politeknik Caltex Riau to enable them to develop valuable professional skills to take back to their communities.
Students were identified from 33 of the tsunami-affected villages where the USAID Community Based Recovery program operates. Motivation, interest and previous work or school background were key criteria in making the selections, with final decisions coming from the village leaders.
The Vocational Training Alliance for Aceh is a result of a $10 million partnership between USAID and Chevron Corporation. By the end of 2005, the program will offer 330 scholarships to Acehnese youth. Subjects of study include computer troubleshooting, computer applications, bookkeeping, electronic repair, electric wiring installation, building construction, carpentry, road construction, and welding.
The Alliance complements the U.S. government's broader $157 million education initiative for Indonesia, working to improve the quality of basic education throughout the country. Education is a major component of the overall USAID assistance strategy for Indonesia which also aims to strengthen decentralized and democratic governance, foster economic growth, and improve the delivery of critical services such as health, water, and the environment.=A9 lan