As part of the implementation of the “Women’s Empowerment and the Demographic Dividend in Sub-Saharan Africa SWEED+” project, the INADES-Formation Tchad, ONG Espoir and ADC consortium organized a 45-day vocational training course in hotel management for young girls and women from the Mayo-Kebbi Ouest province. This project is financed by the World Bank, with technical support from SWEED+, a program that works in the fields of women’s and girls’ economic empowerment, education and keeping girls in school, reproductive, maternal and child health, prevention of gender-based violence, as well as human capital development and the demographic dividend. The overall objective of this training is to build the capacities of out-of-school and vulnerable girls in order to foster their economic independence, improve their social status and reduce their vulnerability to gender inequalities, with a view to their sustainable socio-economic integration in the project area.

A total of 20 girls and women benefited from this intensive training program, which focused on practical skills directly applicable in the hotel and catering sector. The training covered several key topics, including:

• Hotel and restaurant basics,
• Reception and customer service,
• Hygiene and food safety,
• Culinary preparation,
• Simple hotel service management
• Professional behavior and ethics.

The training sessions took place at the “non-violence tourist corner” center in Pala, in a setting conducive to practical learning. Thanks to the skills acquired, these girls and women are now equipped to integrate professional structures, develop income-generating activities and sustainably improve their living conditions.

This training has enhanced the professional skills of the young girls and women who benefited from it, thus promoting their economic autonomy and socio-professional integration. It illustrates the project partners’ commitment to promoting gender equality and sustainable local development in the western Mayo-Kebbi region.

Fatime Ndjaba – Communication INADES-Formation Tchad