From Displacement to Determination: Brhan Byhane’s Path to Skills, Confidence, and Opportunity

Brhan Byhane had to flee her home in the wake of the Tigray conflict, leaving behind the life she had built for herself. “It was really difficult, especially mentally” says the 29-year-old civil engineer, looking back at the challenging times that left her internally displaced.

However, upon learning about short-term vocational trainings, Bhran found an opportunity to improve her family’s livelihood. The trainings are offered by public TVET colleges. “After hearing about it, I realized it was a way to level up and improve myself” she reflects. As one of already 290 successful trainees in the Tigray region, she participated in a 5-month training in the construction department of Axum Polytechnic College (PTC). “The training is practical, it helps me to elevate the knowledge I have”, she says “but it also helps me to interact with others.”

Photo: Brhan Byhane, a 29‑year‑old civil engineer and internally displaced person, is rebuilding her future through vocational training after being forced to flee her home due to the Tigray conflict.

As an IDP, Brhan trained closely together with host community members in an inclusive vocational class. The trainings create space for connection and foster social cohesion, particularly in displacement contexts like in the Northern Ethiopia region. “After the conflict I was not easily sociable with people” Brhan reflects “but after coming here, I communicate with people, I’m helping others, I’m giving hope and encourage others”.

Her journey doesn’t end here. Brhan and her fellow trainees will get the opportunity to either start their own businesses or to be linked up with partner companies. Through this, we ensures that the trainees receive valuable and market-oriented experience to enhance their employment prospects. “I am seeing the bigger picture here. After I have been assigned, I will show them who I am and what I can do. I am seeing something big; I am that kind of person when I am determined”.

The Qualification and Employment Prospects for Refugees, Internally Displaced People and Host Communities in Ethiopia II (QEP) project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-funded by the European Union within the action Sustainable support to people displaced by conflict and natural disaster and their host communities in Benishangul-Gumuz and Tigray.

***

Source: This story is authored by GIZ Ethiopia.