Tanzania: Training On Entreprenuership Helps Youth Earn More Income

Mwanza — SERVING a customer (not in picture) with a smile. Plan International Tanzania has trained more than 3,000 youth in a bid to help them excel in business.

PLAN International Tanzania, in collaboration with Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Vocational Education Training Authority (VETA) and Future World organization under a special project, has conducted a training for youth and couples, on entrepreneurship skills and business opportunities.
More than 3,700 people from Kilombero, Ilala, Nyamagana and Ilemela districts benefited from the training.
Promoting Grassroots Economics Security through Education and Skills, (PAGES) as the project is known was implemented under the Household Economic Security (HES) programme.
Another aim was to increase the level of income and achieve better standards of living through micro financing.
Plan International Tanzania, Mwanza Branch Manager, Grace Semwaiko told the 'Daily News' that he training which was part of a five-year programme aims to enable young people to realize their potential, aspire, earn money and eventually opt for either higher education or higher skills training.
"The model which we used on the training was known as Basic Employability Skills Training (BEST) model and of course the aim of this project was to empower young people," she said.
It delivered a curriculum which enabled young people to grab the basic skills, to be eligible to secure an entry level of employment opportunities in the local job market.
"We made the BEST's curriculum model to be customized for the local market scenario, and hence becomes more customized and suitable for the Tanzanian job market," she said.
The programme offers six month courses in the following areas; hospitality course, motor mechanical, customers Relation and sales, Customers Relation and Front Desk Operation Services, Domestic Electrical Installation. Other courses are computer application, motor vehicles driving, motor cycle driving, life skill and English course.
"Currently more than 3,750 youth have graduated in this programme and some have been employed in various sectors and other are engaged in self employment," she said.
She added that the BEST programme bridges the gap between employers and employees and has made possible for Plan International Tanzania to conduct a market scan and identify potential labour market to cater for youth unemployment.
Since its establishment in 2009, the programme targeted youth from vulnerable families at the age between 18 and 23 years. In the lake zone regions, Ms Semwaiko said her organization, in collaboration with Vocational Education Training Authority (VETA) trained a total of 1,300 youth from two wards of Buswelu and Ilemela in Ilemela district and Igoma Ward in Nyamagana district.
She mentioned the courses which were offered to those wards in the districts as Motor mechanical, Customers Relation and Sales, Customers Relation and Front Desk Operation Services and Computer application Hospitality courses.
Other courses were Motor Vehicles Driving, Life skill, English course and Hospitality course (hotel management) Giving their testimonies on how they benefited from the training, some of Ilemela and Nyamgana residents thanked the organizers for the training which has enabled them to secure employment opportunities.
Diana Rose who works as a sales officer at Nyanza Bottling Co Limited (NBCL) says: "I thank Plan International Tanzania for the three training. I am able to express myself to my customers properly.
Their number has risen from 30 to 100 per day. I'm grateful ," she said Another "graduate" Samwel William said he has managed to get a job, thanks to the training.
"I am now enjoying my life, as now I am able to do my own business and plan for my future," he said David Peterndegeya said he has been hired by Tigo at the Sales Department, where he earns 4,000/- to 5,000/- Jefferd Lucas of Igoma area is now busy with M-Pesa. Tatu Katenya from Rukobe area has raised her capital from 5,000/- to 25,000/- through gardening.
source: daily news

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