TVET Education: Creating Career Pathways to the Future of Industrialization

Richard Mheme Majaliwa was born in Dar es Salaam into a family of nine. Although he performed well in secondary school, finishing in 2017, family financial challenges meant he could not continue to advanced-level education or college, and his dream of becoming an engineer began to fade.

Unable to find steady work, Richard took on small electrical repair jobs at home. After a year, a friend studying at Don Bosco Oysterbay convinced him to apply. Richard was selected to join the Vocational Training Centre, where he studied Electrical Installation and Solar Energy from January 2017 to December 2018.

"My stay at Don Bosco VTC Oysterbay has been the best moment in my life," Richard says. "I realised I had a lot of potential in me that I never discovered before. This is due to the unique system of training youths are given in Don Bosco. I built up confidence through programmes like life skills and career guidance training offered by the Job Services Office."

Through his creativity, discipline and hard work, the Principal of Don Bosco Oysterbay invited Richard to remain at the institution and work in its production units. "I thank Fr. Babu Augustine for the opportunity he provided to me. I am now able to make ends meet and support my family," Richard says.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, Richard designed and built Don Bosco Oysterbay's automatic hand-washing machine — a touchless system that allowed users to wash their hands without touching the tap, reducing the risk of transmission across the institution.