NGOs, Institute partner to train 400 youth on employment skills

By Prosper Makene

Plan International Tanzania Project Coordinator, Simon Ndembeka (R) speaks with the media shortly after visiting the youth who benefited from a training programme sponsored by the National Bank of Commerce at the Nduvini Auto Works Ltd.

Plan International Tanzania, the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) and Future World Vocational Institute have partnered to train about 400 youth on various vocational courses through a programme dubbed ‘Basic Employability Skill Training’ (BEST).
Plan International Project Coordinator, Simon Ndembeka said through the sponsorship of NBC, about 400 youth who are living in difficult environment will benefit from the programme.

He said so far, about 200 youth have been trained on different courses including auto mechanical engineering, hotel management and motorcycle riding.
'We are now training the second batch after having trained 200 youth in the first round whom we empowered with employability skills. Our first batch is now in field attachments while those in the second batch will complete the course in November,' he said.
Ndembeka explained that the programme aimed to train youth from vulnerable environments and make them employable though others can venture into self employment.

The model of the training is a short-term transitional training programme which enables the trainees to realise their potential, aspirations, earn money and eventually opt for either higher education or further vocational training.

The model uses a curriculum which gives young people basic skills to to secure employment opportunities at an entry level in the local job market.
'Our programme approach is holistic, integrated and targets the poor and marginalized groups, that’s why we are helping people from Vingunguti, Sandali and Buguruni wards in Dar es Salaam region,' he said.

For his part, Director of Future World Vocational Institute, Robert Mkolla said: 'We have partnered with Plan International and NBC towards helping the youth gain confidence and knowledge that would help them secure employment opportunities or venture into self employment and change their lives for the better.'

'Before implementing the programme, we conducted a market scan to identify potential labour markets for youth employment, both formal and informal...All in all, we need to produce what the market needs, that’s why our graduates get employed while others can easily employ themselves,” he added.

For her part, Rukia Mtingwa, NBC’s Acting Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs said the bank supports all projects that aim to empower the youth.
'...that’s why we supported Plan International Tanzania’s programme on Basic Employability Skill Training that sees the youth employ themselves while others get employed after completing the courses,' she said.

Mtingwa further said that NBC will also be willing to sponsor another batch of 400 youth that would see a total of 800 youth benefit from the programme in two phases.

She said the youth who benefit from the programme are both male and female aged between 18 and 25 from vulnerable families in Buguruni, Vingunguti and Sandali in Dar es Salaam region.

One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Juma Kombo who is now attending his field attachment at Nduvin Auto Works applauded Plan International, NBC and Future World Vocational Institute for their efforts, saying:  'We are grateful to them for ensuring that we are well prepared for self employment and securing jobs… as you can see me here, I will definitely be able to employ myself after completing this course.'