(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with Don Bosco Network Tanzania, in collaboration with the prime minister’s office, implemented training apprenticeship programs from September 2019 to May 2020 to train more than 5,000 youth in employable skills. The training took place over six months and included two months of field placement.

An IPP Media article about the project noted that Father Melchades Nshaba said that tuition fees were fully paid by the government, and students received a stipend for transportation. The training was held in 13 regions of the country and 18 vocational centers in Tanzania including Don Bosco Dodoma, Don Bosco Iringa and Don Bosco Oysterbay.

The training provided at-risk and vulnerable youth the opportunity to access classroom learning and practical hands-on training to give them an advantage in the labor market. Youth left the training with the skills, knowledge and experience to gain long-term stable employment.

Rosemary Terry, Don Bosco Network manager, said in the article, “To ensure enrolled apprentices receive quality training, all ATC centers ensured the involvement of well-qualified, trained, adequately remunerated and motivated teachers throughout the project implementation.”

Don Bosco Vocational Training Centers provide a range of course work for students in fields that are hiring and that need qualified employees. These include courses in electrical installation, plumbing and pipefitting, masonry and bricklaying, motor vehicle mechanics, lathe work, IT/secretarial, tiling and terrazzo, tailoring and dressmaking, carpentry, and joinery, and welding and fabrication. Once students successfully complete their coursework, they have a wide range of career prospects in front of them.

In addition, students who are looking to make a career in renewable energy have an opportunity for education and advancement at Don Bosco Vocational Training Centers in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Iringa.

Don Bosco Oysterbay in Dar es Salaam has been funded through a partnership with Misereor, the German Catholic Bishops’ Organization for Development Cooperation, to help advance training capacity. Building off this work, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation awarded a grant to Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, to fund a similar training initiative at the Don Bosco training centers in Dodoma and Iringa.

This has led to the establishment of training laboratories and the remodeling of the solar and electronic classes and workshops at the centers, as well as the installation of training equipment and furniture and the development and training of instructors on the new syllabus. The projects are contributing to increased access to quality technical training on renewable energy in Tanzania.

In Tanzania, 67.9 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. While the country has seen some economic growth in tourism, mining, trade and communication, the number of Tanzanians living below the poverty line has marginally increased due to rapid population growth. In some regions, up to half of the population struggles to meet the cost of essential food and shelter and other basic necessities like clothing, health care and education.

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Don Bosco Network Tanzania

Don Bosco Network Tanzania Facebook

IPP Media – Over 5,000 youth benefited from apprenticeship training program

Salesian Missions – Tanzania

UNICEF – Tanzania