CHILE, Verónica Morandé •
From the “María en el camino” Foundation, several types of courses and workshops are offered for the migrants of the Yevide camp and for all those who lack the necessary training for their integration into the job market. —
Training in hygiene and food handling
Thinking of offering adequate training to those who start a business or also offer to work in restaurants, casinos or other places in the area, we sought a professional with a long and important experience to perform such training: Miriam Toro Parra, food engineer from the Catholic University of Valparaiso.
The course lasted three weeks and was held in a warm and familiar atmosphere in which eight women of different ages and nationalities participated, creating close relationships of mutual support, understanding and complementation.
In addition, two sessions on self-esteem were added, one at the beginning and one at the end of the training, developed by a well-known psychologist noted for her professional work, Lucía Anwandter. The students highlighted the fact that the certification of this course was valid for any job in the food industry.
Digital tools specialization
Some of the students who had completed the first two courses of digital literacy and intermediate computing wanted to advance further in digital knowledge and had a conversation with Nicolás Galdámez, public relations and teacher in these subjects that they already knew, with great patience and human closeness, to make a viable specialization for them. This is how this Canva and Google Drive course came about.
There were six students, including two Bolivian and one Peruvian, who throughout the morning of four Saturdays were able to complete their digital training.
At the end of this training, they had to publicly present the project of a poster and the “why” of it, where they could prove their skills and knowledge. That day they presented the new projects they wanted to carry out. Among others: “Recycling for children”, “Baking” and “Workshop for Senior Citizens”.
It seems to us that it is worthwhile to participate in the three computer workshops offered by the foundation. As a result, these students are better prepared and have the necessary tools for a basic computer job in a company.
In addition, it is important to highlight the bonds of closeness and friendship that these students have developed among themselves, with our program and with their teachers.
Original: Spanish 2023-01-11. Translated by: Maria Aragón, Monterrey, México
