Short vocational training for school dropouts

Project partner: HELVETAS

Short vocational trainings for dropouts in Tansania thanks to the YES project by Helvetas in cooperation with the Happel Foundation Switzerland.

Short vocational training for school dropouts

Project partner: HELVETAS

Training facilitates entry into the labor market

Current situation

Every year, 850,000 young women and men enter the labor market in Tanzania. However, their chances of finding decently paid work are rather small. In particular, a lot of young people from the central regions of the country often have no qualifications or even dropped out of school. Many families simply cannot afford a school diploma or the distances to school are too far. Due to a lack of alternatives, the young people seek simple work in agriculture. The income is barely enough to live on.

 

Concept

The YES project offers young people short vocational training courses. Currently, they are organized for eleven professions, ranging from beekeeping, baking, working in beauty salons or hotels, to masonry and electrical installation. The trainings usually last three months and are recognized by the state.

 

Lessons in theory and practice

The young people receive both theoretical and practical education. The training courses are adapted to the local market. They enable the young men and women to enter professional life in an appropriately paid position.

 

YES – short vocational training for school dropouts

The short vocational training in beekeeping enables additional income, especially for farmers.

Example vocational training: Beekeeping

The training as a beekeeper is intensive and comprehensive. The young men and women not only learn how to care for bees and harvest honey. They are then able to process the honey professionally. In addition, the training includes the sewing of the necessary protective suits and the construction of nesting boxes and bee hives.

Interactive learning units

Private and public institutions across the country can adopt the model for the short vocational training courses and adapt them to local conditions. However, it is often difficult for trainees in rural areas to attend classroom courses. Sometimes they have to travel long geographical distances. Particially they find reading itself difficult. Therefore, interactive learning units are also available for self-study via cell phone as part of the training courses.

“I'm working hard. When I'm finished here, I'll know everything I need to know.”
Trainee Teresia Sijia

Example vocational training: Electrical installation

In the field of electrical installation, the men and women learn in theoretical lessons how to plan electrical circuits, for example. In the practical part, they then learn to install it.

The short vocational training in the field of electrical installation opens up new opportunities for the participants on the labor market.

Young women and men who dropped out of school take part in future-oriented short vocational training courses. They learn the necessary skills and competencies they need for the labor market. At the moment, the courses are offered in 11 professions. This trainings enable them to gain a foothold in the labor market and permanently improve their living conditions.

Education improves life situation sustainably

In the training courses young people – especially dropouts – learn a future-oriented profession. This significantly increases their chances on the labor market and, therefore, secures and raises their income. The following graphic shows how the situation has already improved.

A first phase of the YES project was already running 2018-2021, and a study conducted in late 2020 already shows an increase in participants' income

A first phase of the YES project was already running 2018-2021, and a study conducted in late 2020 already showed an increase in participants' income.

Strengthen self-confidence

In addition to the vocational skills, the young participants also strengthen their social and personal skills in the courses and gain self-confidence. They learn to develop ideas, communicate clearly and think along with others. The classes also focus on reliability, proactivity and self-esteem. After all, the learners have to be convincing in job applications and on the job.

 

“The course helped me to believe in myself. I used to feel very pessimistic about the future, I couldn't see a light at the end of the tunnel. Now I know that one day I will be someone, maybe even become an engineer.”
Trainee Deus Luhengo

Encourage entrepreneurship

Those who want to start their own business right after completing their training or later also need entrepreneurial skills such as business planning, marketing or financial management. For this, graduates can attend appropriate courses additionally. They receive support in drawing up business plans and in finding loans for starting a business.

Happel Foundation, Schweiz - Logo

Happel Foundation | HELVETAS

⇒ The Happel Foundation is a long-term partner of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation. The aim of the commitment in Tanzania is to enable disadvantaged young people – especially droppouts – to receive vocational training. Hence, they can increase their chances on the labor market and improve their living conditions sustainably. ⇐

HEVETAS - Logo

The Happel Foundation

Areas of Activity

The Happel Foundation supports projects according to the principle of “help for self-help”.

Sponsorship application

Sponsorship applications can only be submitted online on our application platform.

About the foundation

The Happel Foundation Switzerland is a charitable Swiss foundation based in Lucerne.