Martindale Center- Policy Briefs on the Future of Work

Combatting Child Labor through Vocational Training: Targeting Syrian Refugee Girls in Jordan 19 19 early marriage rates to girls seeking more financial support and opportunities that come with marital arrangements. These low school attendance rates, coupled with higher marriage rates among young girls, illustrate the necessity for an adaptation in secondary education. Policy Options Providing an alternative to secondary education through vocational training would aid in decreasing child labor vulnerability. Instead of being placed in hazardous working conditions, the young women would have the opportunity to be surrounded by a supportive and encouraging community. Thiswouldbe a safe spacewhere refugee girls could learnwith others who have similar experiences and tribulations. These girls would also gain self-confidence in their technical and social abilities, consequently allowing them to understand and demand their rights while finding employment opportunities. Lastly, vocational education would allow them to become assets, for they would have specialized knowledge, making their labor no longer disposable. These women would then contribute to the economy as a whole, thus slowly combatting the overarching cycle of poverty. TheWomen andGirls Oasis Program is a safe space for Syrian women refugees in Jordan to learn specific educational and vocational skills, provide gender-based violence support, and supply limited cash-for-work opportunities. Sponsored by UN Women and the World Food Programme, the Oasis Center opened its doors in 2012 and has spread to twelve refugee camps, including three centers in the Za’atari Camp, the largest refugee camp in Jordan. These centers mainly support mothers and middle-aged women, as they have now become the primary breadwinners in their household since many of their spouses became involved in the Syrian conflict. Some of these learned technical skills include sewing, tailoring, home improvement, basic computer skills, and hairdressing. The centers continue to operate and serve approximately 5,000 women each month (UNWomen b). The UN Oasis Centers are an effective model of providing women skills and offering cash-for- work opportunities on-site at refugee camps. Cash-for-work allows women to choose from various jobs each day and includes positions, such as beauticians or tailors. The centers’ emphasis on female empowerment, as opposed to victimization, enables women to start a lifelong career for themselves. A study conducted by professors at the University of Jordan revealed that 100% of those interviewed stated that the Oasis Centers improved their confidence, and 96% percent claimed that it helped them generate income (Jabbar and Zaza). While the UN Oasis Centers are incredible support systems for Syrian women refugees, they do not currently include older (ages 15–17) girls’ needs, many of whom would benefit from their services. Children in general who have had a break in their education may find it hard to reintegrate into normal secondary school, and this frustration could cause them to drop out and resort to child labor. Others do not understand the value of education because they witness the paradox of people with degrees who are jobless and people with less education who are employed (Small). A vocational program would give them an acceptable alternative to traditional secondary education, allowing them to learn new skills, find a potential career path, and keep them from falling into child labor’s grasp. As mentioned above, the UN Oasis Centers offer more than just vocational training, and these additional services should be adapted and expanded upon better to serve the 15–17-year-old female demographic. Such an expanded program should include at least four additional elements. First would be an emphasis on soft skills and business skills so that the girls are armed with more than just technical skills and are better prepared overall when they enter the workforce (Chaffin, 53). This way they would have more chances at higher-paying jobs that they otherwise would not have gotten and which could help bring themselves and