Algeria job creation plan helps unemployed youth, schoolchildren

An innovative new project in Algeria generates jobs and saves lives.

By Hayam El Hadi for Magharebia in Algiers – 21/12/10

A new job creation program in Algeria puts unemployed youth to work while safeguarding children on their way home from primary school.

A road danger prevention exercise began last week with 500 unemployed young people. The jobless youth were recruited by the Solidarity Ministry as part of a social reintegration drive intended to help the jobless get back to work while reducing the number of road accidents near schools.

"I'm delighted to be able to do this job," Lyes Benderbal told Magharebia. "I don't have any special qualifications. I left school very early, and now, at the age of 30, I've done a lot of small jobs. When I saw this job advertised at the town hall, I didn't hesitate. I quickly put together an application and learned about the Highway Code during the training."

"It's a steady job that only pays 6,000 dinars, but it will give my life a purpose. I will help children to cross the road and not have accidents. For me, it's the most noble of jobs," Benderbal added.

The program, which began December 13th in Algiers, stations helpers outside of schools that have been classified as high-risk areas across 37 communes. Safety officers are also focusing on locations where children frequently cross roads and dangers are known to exist.

According to the Solidarity Ministry, a total of 15,503 children were injured in road accidents and 1,201 lost their lives over the last five years.

No fewer than 250 accident-prone zones have been identified by the solidarity ministry. The helpers have already been trained by civil protection and education officials. The training focused on signaling, how to behave with the public, how to deal with children and basic first aid. They will also receive ongoing instruction during the school holidays.

Since the operation was launched, the helpers have been clearly visible at school gates. Wearing fluorescent green jackets, they help children cross the road. One school to have benefited is Aissat Idir in the working-class district of 1er Mai.

Even before children begin to leave, two helpers carrying stop signs are already waiting outside. Their job is to stop the traffic so that schoolchildren can cross the road.

"Before these helpers came along, I used to fear that my eight-year-old son would be hit by a car when he left school," said parent Slimane Meziane. "Kids are in such a hurry when they leave. They run in all directions and the school gate leads right onto a road. Now I'm relieved to know they will be guided. It's an excellent initiative."

Schoolchildren also seem to have understood the point of the scheme.

"The teacher told us that we must obey the safety officers, who explained the new rules to us. We must leave school calmly and wait for them to stop the cars before we cross," fourth year student Leila Mimoune told Magharebia.

Source: Magharebia.com.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/12/21/feature-01.