ALEPPO — Marea’s local council in the opposition-controlled Euphrates Shield area in the northern countryside of Aleppo has started a training program to help young men and women find employment opportunities in various fields. The project, announced Aug. 16, enjoys the support of the nongovernmental organization Orange and the Turkish Ministry of Education.

Trainers program will be provided by Orange as well as the local council’s education center in Marea. They are to be paid by Orange. 

Registration for the free training courses ran Aug. 16-28 at the headquarters of the Marea local council’s education center. The training officially started at the same location on Sept. 2. Courses in solar panel installation, management skills and graphic design were the first to start, and other courses will begin in the coming days.

Local councils in the Euphrates Shield area opened education centers in early July with the support of the Turkish government. Similar education centers also exist in Turkey. Ankara wishes to do the same in the Euphrates Shield area, where it has major influence, to fight unemployment and provide trained staff. Services provided by Turkish-supported local councils have already improved significantly in the area.