Vocational Training

Tanzania requires students to pass a rigorous national examination at the end of secondary school in order to go on to higher education. But only about 25% of students pass the exam, in part due to the rote memorization teaching techniques still used in many schools.

There will always be students who are unable to pass the exams or who choose not to go on to higher education. Without credentials or a proven skill, their prospects are bleak in an economy with unemployment levels of up to 40%.

AfricAid supports several vocational training initiatives that are designed to provide skills training that will give students the opportunity to better compete in the Tanzanian job market, or fill gaps in the country’s health care system.

Assistant Medical Officer (AMO) Program

The Assistant Medical Officer (AMO) Program is a new two-year program undertaken by Selian Hospital, one of Tanzania’s leading medical facilities, which will train clinical officers to become assistant medical officers, as opposed to certified physicians. These medical practitioners will then have the training and ability to serve in the rural areas of Tanzania, and will be key elements in the effort to provide quality medical services to those areas that are unable to attract fully-trained doctors.

The cost to train one AMO for the full two-year program is approximately $3,000. If you would like to help sponsor some or all of the training cost for an AMO, please click here.

The Muungano Vocational Centre in Usa River

The Muungano Vocational Centre in Usa River is a secondary school that offers vocational and skills training to its students in such areas as computer skills, tailoring, carpentry, and electrical work. AfricAid has provided funding for the purchase of computers for the school’s new computer lab, as well as funding for the furnishing of a tailoring workshop, but additional funding is still needed to finish and outfit the school’s other vocational facilities. You can view a brief video featuring Usa River’s village chairman, Joseph Kitia, as he discusses both the need and his vision for the Muungano Vocational Centre.

If you would like to help give a Tanzanian student the opportunity for meaningful vocational training, please click here.

Kiwoheda

Kiwoheda serves as an advocate for the rights of the most disadvantaged children in the Tanzanian community – orphans, child prostitutes and street children – and operates various centers throughout the country. These centers provide a safe place for these girls to gather every day, and teach them about basic nutrition and health care, offer HIV testing, and provide vocational training. At Kiwoheda’s Arusha center, girls are taught how to sew and cook, thereby giving them marketable skills — and offering a means by which to escape life on the streets.

AfricAid has supported the important work of Kiwoheda by providing funds for the purchase of sewing machines for the Arusha Center.