Car mechanics gives hope for the future

Situation: Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous island in Tanzania, one of the poorest countries of the world. Compared to the mainland, Zanzibar is always neglected when it comes to building new infrastructure and schools or providing new jobs. Unemployment is high and young people hardly have any opportunities to receive vocational training or any further education, as real vocational schools can only be attended on the mainland. However, this is financially unfeasible for most Zanzibaris. Therefore it is not unlikely for people to turn to criminal activities.

Project description: In order to face this problem, Partner Aid International supports the local aid organization PAMOJA, who has started a training center on Zanzibar. Young people are given the opportunity to receive an officially recognized certificate as a car mechanic. Automobiles are becoming of increasing importance to Zanzibar’s economy, making the trade increasingly significant.

PAMOJA and Karume Technical College Zanzibar partner in this project. The college is taking steps to integrate the center into its official program, which will give the training course its official recognition. PAMOJA can also make use of the college’s teaching staff.

The college is providing the center with appropriate buildings on its large campus. This ensures that the trainees do not have to work in the open. Although this is common practice in Zanzibar, it also causes great ecological problems, as oils and lubricants are released into the underground water.

In addition to mechanical instruction, the trainees also receive schooling in computing and management.