Douala: UNHCR, Toyota Tsusho equip refugees with automobile skills.

The refugees recently completed a vocational training course organised by UNHCR in collaboration with TTC. 

A ceremony to award certificates and starter kits to 16 refugees who successfully completed the vocational training in automotive repair and maintenance, took place on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at the CAMI Toyota Training Centre in Douala-Bonaberi. 

The initiative, launched in 2023, officials said, aims to promote the socio-economic integration and self-reliance of refugees while strengthening their ability to contribute meaningfully to the communities that host them.

Speaking at the ceremony, UNHCR Chief for the Littoral Delegation, Maria Chiara Masetti, said the project exemplifies how humanitarian assistance can evolve into long-term solutions.

“This project is a great example of how refugees can contribute to sustainable development and socio-economic inclusion in their host countries,” she said. 

“By strengthening the independence, skills, and capabilities of refugees, we support their local integration and inclusion in national development efforts. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, emphasising how humanitarian actions can evolve into durable, empowering solutions,” she added.

Masetti stressed that the programme is about more than training; it is about restoring dignity and providing refugees with a pathway to independence.

Beneficiaries share their journeys

Ousmane Sylla, a Central African refugee who has spent seven years in Cameroon, said, the certification is a life-changing opportunity. “This certificate means a lot to me,” he said. 

“Training at CFAO Mobility taught us not just mechanics but professionalism. Now, with this certificate from a company of international repute, I can walk into a garage and apply for a job with confidence. This will open doors for me,” Ousmane stated. 

Similarly, Christian Itangishaka, a 25-year-old Rwandan refugee, sees the training as a springboard to entrepreneurship.

“Thanks to this certificate, I now have the opportunity to start my own business. My dream is to create a garage and, eventually, a training centre to help other refugees and Cameroonians learn professional skills,” he explained.

Both trainees highlighted the unique value of the programme, particularly the blend of classroom theory and practical, hands-on experience with industry professionals.

Boosting employability, local integration

The initiative has also drawn support from national employment structures. Ntone Emmanuel, Deputy Regional Director of the National Employment Fund NEF, commended the programme as he pledging NEF’s support to help integrate trained refugees into the Cameroonian labour market.

“Technical skills are in high demand,” Ntone emphasised, adding that: “We are ready to register these beneficiaries, guide them, and facilitate their access to job opportunities or entrepreneurship support”. 

With Cameroon hosting over 460,000 refugees, initiatives like this, the NEF representative said, it represents a critical shift toward empowering vulnerable populations to become active contributors to their host communities and the national economy.

Since its launch, the UNHCR-TTC automotive training programme has been hailed as a model for durable refugee solutions across Africa. By equipping participants with industry-relevant skills and starter kits, the project enhances their employability, while fostering economic resilience and reducing dependence on humanitarian aid.

The programme also strengthens social cohesion by encouraging interaction and collaboration between refugees and host communities, building a sense of shared progress and mutual benefit. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3553 of Wednesday September 03, 2025