African Inspirers: Ethiopians returnee migrant shares her skills with other women

World
Europe

02:52

Many Ethiopians who have been forced to return home from other countries are striving to re-establish themselves at home. One woman who struggled for 6 years to work in Saudi Arabia illegally, but was deported in 2014, has decided to share her experience with other women by training them. Coletta Wanjohi report from Addis Ababa

At the Ethio Gulf Training Institute in Addis Ababa, Aster Tesfaye is in class for her daily session.

She's teaching these women who are preparing to go and work as domestic workers in the gulf countries. They all have legal documentation but are seeking skills.

But beyond the basic training, Aster always adds on some personal advice:

ASTER TESFAYE RETURNEE MIGRANT "I advisee the girls not to go illegal means and human traffickers. I tell them to use legal means and develop a savings culture - because many of our sisters send their money back to relatives but when they get back here they find nothing, have no way of reestablishing themselves and end up developing psychological problems."

28-year-old Aster identifies with these women.

She lived for 6 years in Saudi Arabia where she was employed as a domestic worker.

Aster was deported 4 years ago because of the lack of legal documentation to stay and work in Saudi Arabia.

COLETTA WANJOHI ADDIS ABABA, EHIOPIA "The International Labor Organization in Ethiopia is now collaborating with different institutions to train willing returnee migrants as trainers so that they can be able to pass on hands on skills to their fellow citizens who are thinking of trying their luck outside the country."

Her employer says having a trainer with first hand experience of the Arab world like Aster adds great value to the training his institute offers.

BERHANU ADAM DIRECTOR, ETHIO GULF TRAINING INSTITUTE "The most important thing those who worked there have experience, secondly it helps them train better, the more they train others, the more they get better at it. The sessions they give are practical and helpful to those planning to travel and work in the gulf states. I hire such people like Aster because they can also speak some Arabic."

But for Aster now - she doesn't want to seek work abroad anymore. She wants her training to enable others with legal support to get a better life there, though. She plans to stay home and one day start a daycare centre of her own.

Coletta Wanjohi, CGTN, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.