Educating young people in Mbeya, Tanzania

A solid vocational training provides an open door to the job market and to self-employment. It offers young people the chance to earn their own living. For that reason, the Moravian Church of Tanzania runs several vocational centers (VTC), with the objective of continuing to look after the pupils after they finished school. By providing them with an appropriate training place, the intention of the VTC is to show them a way out of poverty.
Herrnhuter Missionshilfe e.V.
Local promoter

Berufsausbildungszentrum der Moravian Church in Mbeya (MVTC)

The Moravian Church Vocational Training Centre in Mbeya (MVTC) was founded in 2000 and is registered with the Vocational Training Authority (VETA). The aim of the school is to provide young people, regardless of gender or religious background, with an academic and technical education at national level.

The capacity of the centre is 450 students*, currently around 400 students* are enrolled (status 2019). The students* can attend courses in carpentry, car mechanics, electrical installation, design, sewing and clothing technology, hotel and tourism management, food production, office management, IT and English. The vocational training centre also includes two computer rooms with 50 computers and internet connection. A professionally equipped car workshop offers the best conditions for a profound education. The aim is to ensure the long-term conceptual development of the training programme towards modern occupational fields such as solar technology.

The Moravian Vocational Training Centre has set itself the goal of promoting gender equality and diversity. To achieve this, it is necessary to change mindsets and create sufficient conditions so that more young women can attend school and get the chance of vocational training with subsequent employment. Therefore, the accommodations of the facility, which offers around 120 beds, should make it easier for young women from difficult social backgrounds or from the countryside to attend school.

The school also wants to show solutions in order to counteract youth unemployment and poverty, especially in rural areas. The centre provides basic equipment and tools to enable vocational school students* to become craftsmen and so to start a self-employed career after graduation. In the long term, entire village communities can thus receive sustainable economic and social support through small craft businesses.

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