Displaced by floods, residents learn new skills

Despite suffering from recent heavy rainstorms, residents of Yongan town in Fenxi county, Shanxi province, are eagerly participating in a vocational training course held at a temporary shelter in Houjialou village.

More than 9,000 residents affected by floods in the first week of October were evacuated safely.

The temporary shelter set up at Boxiang Vocational and Technical Training School in Houjialou housed 177 residents from nearby villages.

With the help of teaching facilities and professional teachers at the school, the local government opened an eight-day training course in making Chinese-style pastry for people under the age of 60.

"Trainees can get a vocational qualification certificate after passing the exam," said Wang Zhonghuai, director of the county's human resources and social security bureau. "It will be a good opportunity for residents who can work to improve their entrepreneurial skills and employment prospects."