October 8, 2024

EDUCATE, EMPOWER, EXCEL.

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Bridging Opportunities for Disadvantaged Youth through TVET Education The Don Bosco Planning and Development Office-Tanzania has partnered with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) to advance Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Officially launched on August 15, 2024, this three-year program provides full scholarships to ten students (six female and four male) at the Don Bosco Iringa Youth Training Centre (DBYTC). The initiative will cover all educational expenses and focus on equipping students with market-relevant vocational skills in Tailoring, Plumbing, Electrical Installation, and Motor Vehicle Mechanics. This collaboration underscores DTB’s dedication to Corporate Social Responsibility and aligns with the PDO’s mission to uplift marginalized youth, particularly female students who are underrepresented in the Tanzanian TVET landscape. Both institutions are committed to exploring opportunities to expand this partnership, with the potential to reach more students and extend support to additional Don Bosco institutions across Tanzania. By investing in education, we’re not just changing individual lives – we’re building a more skilled workforce and vibrant communities. To learn how you can support this initiative, please visit https://dbtz.org/  or contact economer@donboscotanzania.org/ +255756308518 THE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM Paving Career Pathways for Tanzania’s Industrial Future Don Bosco Tanzania continues to support government initiatives through the Public-Private Partnership strategy established in 2018. This collaboration focuses on imparting practical, hands-on skills to Tanzanian youth and is closely aligned with the government’s National Skills Development Programme (NSDP). The primary aim is to equip the national labor force with employable skills, thereby enhancing workplace productivity and driving industrial growth. In the implementation of the 4th cohort of students since the official collaboration with the Government, through the Prime Minister’s Office—Labor, Youth, and People with Disabilities, Don Bosco has successfully enrolled and trained 1,032 young individuals in vocational education across nine trades: Electrical and Solar, Tailoring, Fitter Mechanics, Carpentry, Welding, Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Plumbing, and Masonry. This collaboration reinforces a shared commitment between Don Bosco and the Tanzanian government to empower youth with the skills needed to thrive in a competitive job market and by focusing on trades that are critical to the country’s infrastructure and industrial development, the initiative not only enhances the individual prospects of the trainees but also supports broader national goals of economic growth and industrialization.   Moreover, the program is designed to be inclusive, providing opportunities for youth from diverse backgrounds, including those from marginalized communities and those with disabilities an aspect that is central to the mission of Don Bosco, which aims to uplift and empower all young people, particularly those who may otherwise lack access to quality education and training. “Empowering Tanzanian Youth: Building Skills and Creating Decent Jobs through Strategic Partnerships” Don Bosco Oysterbay VTC with the support from DB Planning and Development Office is implementing the Skills Development, Social Dialogue, and Decent Jobs for Young Tanzanians. Funded by a consortium of Danish partners (Danish Trade Union Development Agency (DTDA) (lead applicant) and Confederation of Danish Industry, DI (co-applicant) in collaboration with the Danish Family and Planning Association (DFPA) and under the supervision of the Trade Union Confederation of Tanzania TUCTA, and its affiliated unions TUICO and RAAWU, as well as the Association of Tanzanian Employers (ATE). The Project is a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing the challenges faced by young people in Tanzania in terms of skills development and employment opportunities. It focuses on fostering partnerships and collaboration between various stakeholders, including government institutions, employers, workers’ organizations, and educational institutions, to promote inclusive economic growth and create decent jobs for the youth. Through this project, Don Bosco Oysterbay VTC has successfully equipped 250 young individuals with essential skills and knowledge in Electrical Installation, Air Conditioning, Food Production, Bakery, and Hotel Management. These efforts are aimed at improving employability, income security, and ensuring decent working conditions for the youth, who represent a significant segment of Tanzania’s future workforce. The current project timeline is scheduled to conclude in December 2024. However, the Don Bosco Planning and Development Office has proactively begun discussions to extend the collaboration, aiming to prolong the project’s implementation period beyond 2024.     The quality and relevance of Don Bosco Tanzania’s TVET education are influenced by various factors, including the level of industry sector involvement. To enhance this aspect, Don Bosco, through its Planning and Development and Job Services offices, has facilitated partnerships by signing four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with key industry associations: the Tea Association of Tanzania (TAT), the Hotel Association of Tanzania (HAT), the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI), and the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA).   Through these established Partnerships Don Bosco Tanzania aims to enhance the training curriculum for students pursuing careers related to the agriculture, hotel management, industrial, and horticulture sectors as well as related fields. Through these collaborations, Don Bosco students are expected to gain more practical insights and hands-on experience, making them more competitive and capable of contributing to the growth of Tanzania’s tea sector. The established partnerships are more than just formal agreements; they represent a concerted effort to ensure that Don Bosco Tanzania’s TVET programs are closely aligned with the needs of the job market. By involving industry leaders in the education process, Don Bosco aims to not only enhance the employability of its graduates but also contribute to the broader goal of economic development in Tanzania. Through these collaborations, students are better prepared to enter the workforce with the skills, knowledge, and experience that employers are actively seeking, thereby improving their prospects for secure and rewarding employment. Advancing Agriculture: The Transformative Impact of Solar Technician Training Patrick Makoye is among the beneficiaries of the Solar Technician project sponsored by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation at Don Bosco Dodoma VTC. Having acquired skills, knowledge, and competencies to install and maintain solar systems, Patrick took the personal initiative to establish a company for solar/electrical installation works and maintenance.   One of Patrick’s major projects in 2024 was the installation of a 6.2 Kw solar power system in Chamwino, Dodoma. This substantial solar installation, set up on a six-acre farm, is specifically

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Solar Energy

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As the proliferation of renewable energy particularly Solar Energy continues across Tanzania, on-grid markets and project initiatives are gradually losing their niche status and solar energy is increasingly becoming more commonplace, particularly in the rural areas of the country. Solar products and services are now a common sight in shops and markets throughout the country. Several factors have contributed to this growth both from the supply as well as the demand-side and the trend is projected to upsurge in the long run. Don Bosco Oysterbay’s s strategic direction towards green TVET originates from the ongoing global agenda on transitions to green economies and sustainable societies which requires policymakers, employers and workers, economic, social, and environmental actors, educational and training institutions, and individual citizens to make the right choices. The shift to low-carbon economies requires not only new regulations, investments, and institutional frameworks, but also TVET to engage more systemically in response to the changing job opportunities and skills needs that a green development agenda brings about.   The introduction of a solar training and installation technician training program at Don Bosco Oysterbay VTC funded by Misereor focuses on training enrolled marginalized and disadvantaged youngsters in photovoltaic (PV) technology as a countermeasure to address the shortage/limited technicians in the solar energy sector to install and ensure regular maintenance of solar systems and established solar projects. The established program was designed with a supposition that Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is the strategic entry point for ensuring a world of work that contributes to social cohesion and promotes environmentally sound sustainable development and TVET and skills development initiatives play a significant role not only in developing human and social capital but also in promoting necessary skills, knowledge, and expertise needed for more sustainable societies and greener economies.   Since the inception of the project in 2018, Don Bosco Oysterbay VTC has been able to train a total of 226 students in photovoltaic (PV) technology out of which 45 trainees have successfully been employed in different domains of the solar ecosystem. The provided training program which consists of both electronics and Solar system training is designed to provide a technical foundation for photovoltaic (PV) technologies and reinforces classroom learning with hands-on demonstrations. Salehe Juma pursued his career in the domain of electrical installation but was also integrated into solar energy after the introduction of SOLAR TRAINING AND INSTALLATION PROJECT sponsored by Misereor at Don Bosco Oysterbay VTC. After successfully graduating for his Level 3 Salehe successfully secured employment at HUSK POER SYSTEM. Since his recruitment, Saleh acknowledges to have been able to grow as an employee and he recognizes that his achievements can be credited to the training he acquired at Don Bosco, the support from other employees, and individual focus. Salehe shares his top 3 things he has learned and helped him excel professionally. “Curiosity” Salehe acknowledges that his curiosity has enabled him to acquire massive knowledge about how things work since his early learning days and currently at the company. “I tend to ask a lot of questions to my colleagues to a point that I feel I become a nuisance to them sometimes. But I aim to find out how things work/operate because some things are quite new and the only way I can find out is by asking. I would ask 20 questions and when someone thinks I am done I have another 35 questions. I am happy my colleagues are bearing with me and I must say it helps me learn a lot. I appreciate the support I am getting”.   “Continuous willingness to Learn” Salehe admits that his willingness to learn has been crucial to his development. “I have been a willing student to learn since my time at Don Bosco. Our superiors here do not expect we are perfect so they tend to teach us some things now and then. I tend to maximize this learning to the fullest because I know it will enable me to effectively do my job”.   “Focus” “I am very focused on my job because I know employment is not easy to find nowadays. I see that from my friends, family, and other people who are striving for employment opportunities. My focus has also enabled me to attain support from other senior employees because they are really keen on their jobs and seeing my desire and focus gives them the motive to support me whenever I need their support” explained Salehe.   Through its undertakings, Don Bosco Oysterbay advocates partnerships and cooperation/collaboration for promoting the necessary capacities in TVET and skills development for allowing a rapid and equitable shift to greener economies and more sustainable societies. Through its Job Services Office the institution has developed a network of significant partners across the solar energy ecosystem enabling the undertaking of other value-added interventions (study tours, field attachments, internships, consultancy, and capacity building for trainers)  to increase the value of the education provided at the institution. In the context of sustainable development, the concept of green economy has established itself on a global level as the new environmental guiding principle. The key message of the concept is that environmental protection should be considered as more than just a general cost factor; on the contrary, it may offer opportunities for more economic growth, increased prosperity, and social justice. The current green transition agenda at Don Bosco Oysterbay VTC is envisioned to bring new employment opportunities among the marginalized youngsters but will also alter existing jobs. In order to avoid high social costs and, at the same time, to tap the employment potential of green jobs, the institutions apprehend the need to anticipate and respond to skill changes needed for successful careers in low-carbon economies. DB Oysterbay VTC aims to prepare their learners for being responsible and well-informed producers and consumers, and for being able to act competently, creatively, and as agents for sustainability in their workplaces and society at large. The institution considers investments in TVET and skills development initiatives

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