2021 - 2024
Making something out of skills
Young people enter the labour market through targeted vocational training.
Description
Youth unemployment in the provinces of Sofala and Manica in central Mozambique is a major challenge. The large number of young people, who come from predominantly low-income rural farming families and are of school age, are faced with a lack of training possibilities. The problem of access and affordability in regards to secondary and vocational training facilities, the quality of education, poor infrastructure and corruption are all obvious contributing factors.
The development organization Solidar Suisse was founded in 1936 by the Swiss Workers' Relief Association (SAH). It aims to help strengthen the vocational skills of young people and young adults with the project ≪Improved access to vocational training and Integration into the labour market≫.
Vision
Make vocational training possible for young people from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition, special consideration is to be given to the visually impaired.
Approach
The initiative can be characterized by 4 components:
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Easier access to vocational training to acquire skills and competencies adapted to the local labour market.
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Promoting self-initiative and innovative business ideas.
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Supporting visually impaired people in acquiring skills to improve their income.
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Certificates and improved curricula through cooperation with training centers and state authorities.
Impact
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In 2023, 21 young adults from difficult socio-economic backgrounds, received full scholarships for the 3-year training program at the Instituto Agrario Marera. A total of 735 young adults have completed short-term vocational training and 181 have completed a 3-year vocational training program.
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In 2023, 36 start-ups which were launched in 2021 and 2022, were accompanied and supported with technical and commercial coaching.
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40 visually impaired young adults have undergone computer training.
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Direct cooperation with public institutions was changed to ≪round tables≫ with multiple stakeholders and an exchange of experiences with other stakeholders.
Story
Our own business model
Jacinto Fineas, 34 years old
«Together with my partners, I did an apprenticeship as a construction worker at the IICJM in Chimoio until 2022. After the training, we were able to apply for a grant with our business model, which we won. The five of us formed a start-up, three other partners were then added. Now we have a company together - but it's not officially registered yet. This is our goal to be able to work safely. Here we work on our first own construction site, we are building a three-bedroom house, which is very modern, the plan comes from the future homeowner. We asked who gave us a chance and were lucky! We even hired other people, such as a carpenter and an electrician. For this we resort to our network in the institute, I always wanted to be a construction site manager, I see how the walls are growing, how the installation comes about and in the end a family moves in. In five years I would like to be an entrepreneur, a contractor, and have built a construction company with my friends, with vehicles, machines and an office with storage room. No, not a big entrepreneur, medium-sized companies, we want to be able to give people work and support our families. To do that, we save together and have set up an account for it, at the moment that's not much, but it will do!»
Copyright images ©Solidar Suisse
Our tailoring business
Tailoring: a young couple (he 28, she 19 years old with her 3-month-old baby)
«We founded a tailoring business. We both met in training and have been together ever since. We had a child three months ago. We have had the tailoring here for three months, in the same quarters in Chimoio, where we also live. In a month we earn the equivalent of around 40 to 60 francs, that's enough for us to live. Mainly we make customizations or tailor what our customers want. We have made children's dresses and wedding dresses, including evening dresses, everything our customers want. We also want to create our ideas and sell them. We both saved money, but we spent that on our wedding and not for the business. However, with the support of the family, we were able to buy a second sewing machine, which is even electric, not like the first which has a foot pedal. Our dream is to have our own small tailor's workshop at some point and no longer have to rent it. Renting is very uncertain, we could be terminated here at any time. »
Partner