After graduating with a degree in microelectronics engineering in 2015, I joined the public sector as an engineer. However, I quickly realized that it wasn’t the right fit for me, and I was eager for a bigger challenge.

In 2016, I founded Electroworks, a vocational training center in Gafsa that offers accelerated, certified trainings in electrical, mechanical, and automotive skills. The trainings succeeded in helping youth in the south-west find jobs, earning a great reputation and attracting many trainees.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and its resulting health restrictions presented major challenges. We had to limit the number of in-person trainees and saw overall enrollment drop.

The COVID-19 Enterprise Recovery Fund established by the U.S. government’s USAID Tunisia JOBS program helped us withstand these difficult times. The funding enabled us to purchase new computer equipment for our training courses and cover operating expenses during the crisis. With this support, we were also able to start training for a pilot Professional Aptitude Certificate in electromechanics. We enrolled 30 new trainees in the first session, which was a major success.

Houcine Lachkhem – Founder, Electroworks