Work skills help Tanzanians break out of poverty

Fishing skills help families to produce products for market and support themselves

14 March 2008: Students at Plan Tanzania vocational training centres in one of the country’s poorest regions have seen their incomes increase 600% following graduation.

It is almost a decade since Plan established 3 centres in the Mwanza region, within the wards of Igogo, Mkuyuni, Mkolani and Buhongwa.

Around US$850,000 has been invested in the project, which has helped more than 500 students escape from the cycle of poverty.

Before, many boys were only able to scratch a living selling charcoal, which might bring in around US$20 per month, while it was more common for girls to stay at home.

Employable skills

Graduates of Plan' scheme, of whom 83% are self-employed, now earn an average of US$120 per month from the skills they have learnt. These include employable skills such as tailoring, hotel management and tourism, driving, fishing, mechanics, panel beating, welding and carpentry.

One of the former students, Pius Christopher said:

“I got the skills of constructing good houses from the vocational training centre constructed by Plan. These skills have helped me to get employment and I am working with the United Nations Development Program on a contract bases at Kahama. I can now support my extended family.’’

Another former student, Tibangasa Methew, who trained as a tailoring lady, said:

“Through these skills I gain my daily income and my children are growing up healthy.”

Government praise

Plan’s achievements have brought approval from the government, whose former Minister of Higher Education and Vocational Training,  Magreth Sitta, attended a ceremony at one of the centres.

She said: "Plan's work in empowering youth through knowledge is recognised by the central government as being a major factor in the alleviation of poverty in the county."

Plan had liaised with the Tanzanian government's Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) to identify the type of skills needed in the community and decide where the centres should be located.

Ward councillors, community leaders and teachers were also involved in various stages of the project, as were representatives of the Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO).

Learn more about Plan's approach to supporting communities