A fun post...

Quick note about work… I can't believe I only have two weeks left!  I have made the first draft of the strategy and am waiting on feedback and also working to put it in to more of an Activities work plan.   I should have more to report next week, as we will again be visiting companies here locally for industry link opportunities and feedback to form an advisory committee which will meet just before I head out.  If time permits, I have also been asked to assist in writing the strategy for a different project that is focused on employability as well but in the Secondary schools (before employment/vocational/college).  Will write more on that later!!

**Proud moment this week… I called a Bajaj (aka tuk tuk, aka the main means of transport around here) all by myself TWICE (shout-out to my lovely friends Zara and Kayley for the coaching on what to say) and successfully made it to my destinations. :)

With mostly work related posts lately, I wanted to take a moment share some facts and interesting things that I’ve either observed or learned in my time here in no particular order:

• Tanzanians are very friendly and welcoming, they smile from ear to ear, greet everyone and use a multitude of these greetings at one time (in Kiswahili of course).  One of the most common greetings said to tourists  is “Mambo”, with the common response ”Poa”, which means roughly “Cool”- this is my favorite Swahili word, because its normal to have favorite words in other languages right?
• I speak American English, well Texan actually…  Of course I knew this before arriving but when you’re the only one who speaks it, you stick out!  I have met people from many different places, locals of course… then also the UK, Finland, Scotland, Australia, Portugal, Canada, and the Netherlands and am sure to come home with a new vocabulary.  I have to work to convert my brain to the metric system, think before I speak the word “soccer” and don’t dare say football and mean the pigskin, and tune in closely to conversations much more than usual.  However, I have successfully taught my Tanzanian manager to say “gotcha” and have slowly introduced “y’all” in random conversation.
• Upon arrival in Dar Es Salaam, at night and alone in a taxi, I saw many groups gathered at corners on motorbikes and in my exhausted and anxious state I thought them to be some sort of motorcycle gangs.  In the light of day and after living here a while, I came to realize that these motorbikes are called “Boda boda” or a motorcycle taxi that many people use as transport to and from town/work/etc., so what I was seeing was actually Tanzania’s version of a taxi stand. Ha! Silly Mzungu! (the common Swahili term for someone with white skin)  Pic to come soon
• The big dipper is upside down!  And the rest of the constellations… don’t laugh, I was very amused.
•  Oranges are not orange… 
• Cheese and bacon are a delicacy and tough to get around town… 
• A WHOLE lot can be carried  by bicycle, there are literally whole shops, it is mind boggling
• Only tourists say Hakuna Matata- curses Lion King making me think I knew something!… more widely used by locals is Hamna shida which essentially also means no worries or no problem.
• My little Coleman lantern (thanks Dad!) lights up an entire room and power cuts don’t really phase me anymore (unless they are in the middle of the night because I am a kid and afraid of the dark)… but I still always remind myself to look up, the stars are beautiful when there is no light.
•  There are NOT lions, elephants, and giraffes freely about, sadly.  Of course I am on the coast and in the south so there ARE freely roaming goats, chickens, and cows a plenty! *Must go back to Africa for actual safari in future my time is slowly slipping away here!*
• I’m notably a light sleeper, though I have gotten used to some sounds…crying goats (disturbingly sound like crying children), mooing cows, church bells at the nearby convent at 6 AM, the call to prayer from the Mosque at 4:30 AM.
• However, this does NOT include my little winged two legged alarm clock – Roosters (Cockles for you non-American English folk) do sound off in the morning, the one outside my house at 6:30 AM every day.

I think that’s it… for now- here are some photos for you!

Sign outside of VETA

Me walking home from work via the beach

An orange?

 Another sky just because

10 Degrees South- a little treasure in Mikandani Mtwara, where I have made many memories and I highly recommend a visit to anyone who may one day venture out this way.  The food, the company, and the view are amazing... and if you keep an eye out, you could see some monkeys, though be careful as they just may throw nuts at you from the tree tops on occasion...

Opportunity Knocks

How do we help VETA answer the call?

First a little background:  Every year in Tanzania 1 million young people enter the labour market and there aren’t enough employment opportunities to go around. Youth unemployment is high and many other young people have to rely on informal and insecure work which is poorly paid and come with poor working conditions.  At the same time, there is large scale investment in Tanzania. Large discoveries of off shore oil and gas have led to significant investment in the Mtwara and Lindi regions of Tanzania. Companies in the oil and gas sector and its supply chain will have large demands for labour, goods and services and at the moment the available workforce in Tanzania does not have the right level and quality of skills to meet that demand.

As mentioned in my last post, this week was a week of meetings, and it turned out to be a step in the right direction.  We felt we would get the best feedback by starting with the current companies who are providing internships for trainees.  First stop was a local builder/engineering company which has both carpentry and masonry interns on site.  We began discussing the project goals and I asked about the mechanism by which he received the current trainees.  He mentioned that he’d called VETA and that the potentials initially just showed up on site and there was not a CV sent or any structure to how he received them.  He was excited about the prospect of this being improved in the future!  Then we discussed the trainees and it was said the majority are very willing to learn and improve their skills, but that it took a while to get them up to speed because in this industry practical experience is very different from what can be taught in a controlled workshop.  His hope is that we could extend the internships from 2-3 months to possibly 6 months and mentioned that was possible he would be very willing to hire them on full time once he had trained them for that period.  By the end of this meeting, it was clear that carpenters are indeed a huge need and it will only increase.  This company alone plans to build 94 more blocks of apartment buildings in Mtwara as well as 20 new houses in Dar es Salaam in the next few years.   Afterwards it was hard hat time and we had a chance to visit with the interns.   They were so proud to walk us around and show us the columns they had constructed on site and said they were very happy with the experience they were getting there, and hoped to be able to secure employment there in the future.

Then it was time to visit the Port and we met with an oil and gas company which has VETA trainees from plumbing, welding,  motor vehicle mechanics, and electrical on site.  Through the meeting we found that to find the trainees here, the company had to reach out to VETA through networking of employees and VSO volunteers who were friends outside of work.  They were also pleased by the potential for job postings in the future and having a structure and relationship with someone in VETA who can ensure follow up and constant communication.   We also learned that here too the trainees presented themselves very well and were doing a great job, however there had been some lead time to get them up to speed as most of the equipment they were seeing for the first time on arrival at the port.  We talked to the trainees as well and they were enthusiastic and seemed to really enjoy their internships, and when asked what VETA could have done to better prepare them they seemed to understand that there are limitations in the controlled workshops but mentioned that more field practice would be great because the field work is very different than their training.  For instance in motor vehicle mechanics, the 4-6 cylinder car engines for practice at VETA compared to a 12 cylinder engine in the field.  Overall we saw that there are opportunities arising at the port for trainees, but VETA needs to improve on the industry experience to better align the training with what is needed in the field.  If this can’t be done in the workshops, then again potentially extending internships or even having teachers visit the companies could be good ideas.  Walking around the site, these interns were also proud to show electrical outlets that had been installed recently, and it’s a great thing to see pride and big smiles on their faces.  I managed to remember to bring my camera with me on site here and have included a couple photos below of us in the meeting and then one of supervisor with the trainees.

Great news is that although we only went out to a couple companies so far, the upper level management/supervisors all seem very eager to assist in any way they can to help strengthen the relationship between VETA and the local industries.  We are working to re-engage an Advisory committee that unfortunately was formed and then seemed to be forgotten after a meeting in November.  The committee is made up of local companies by trade and VETA management and I feel it is essential to keep up the industry links and provide sustainability after VSO has finished assisting with the project.

So now as I have only about 3 weeks left out here- it’s time to buckle down to write out this strategy….

Habari za Kazi?

Translated…How is your work? 

I am halfway through my placement and I feel like things are slowly coming into focus as to what can be achieved while I am here as far as the work I am doing.  The first weeks I have spent observing and being a “sponge” so to speak, gaining as much knowledge of what the challenges are by meeting with the Principals, Registrars, Teachers, HR managers, as well as other volunteers in both centers.    I came in with no expectations which turned out to be a great outlook as the Program Director told me on my first day- “VSO is here, working on this project, because there are issues, and you need to understand that.”  If everything was running smoothly, there would be no need for help.

So… I made a list of challenges because I figured this is a good place to start!  I won’t list them all but so you can get an idea…  The center is Lindi as mentioned is newer so they do not have all of the same challenges there as Mtwara.  EX: Mtwara Motor vehicle workshop has been getting a new floor and unusable for the 3 weeks at least as I understand.  Some of the challenges are for both locations such as the desire for more capacity building for teachers as well as the language barrier. Understand not all the issues directly apply to my role but of course affect other VSO volunteers, and then indirectly applies to me because everything is connected!

Quick rundown-There is a VSO advisor for each vocational trade (still in process of recruiting for some spots) as well as one for Entrepreneurship and English, most have been here at least a year or more, and they have made some great leaps since the project start. (i.e. bringing in City and Guilds to train teachers and provide curriculum, creating Entrepreneurship societies and a Speech lab, the bakery mentioned in my other post, as well as the success that many food prep and welding trainees are out in the work force after last year’s graduation), so things are moving forward just not as quickly as everyone hoped!

MY IMPACT:

My main objective is to create an employability strategy and make suggestions for improvements and write it all up in a proposal before I leave.  My hope is that the strategy is implemented and some success will come from it, even if it is a while after I am gone.  When I got here I knew they needed some help with sample resumes and interviewing tips. After a week or so I discovered that there is actually a class here called Life Skills where the curriculum outlines a Module on seeking employment with resume writing and interviewing skills, as well as using referrals to gain employment.  This was a good start assuming that the curriculum is being followed which unfortunately I cannot observe because the end of July is when this is actually on the syllabus.  That said- I’ve separated my strategy into two parts.  First I will provide my suggestions using sample skills resumes as well as an interview preparation document to give to graduates.  This will act as a guide for the Life Skills teachers in the future.  Second, I will provide technology input related to my experience that would assist in securing employment, such as using Excel or a simple database to track students by trade with their skills resumes as well once they create them, or having a Career Opportunity/job posting section on the main VETA website.  This would be for easier access for HR/Registrar when he has potential employers contact him with opportunities.  Also, making sure students know how to search the internet and having good internet access at VETA since most do not have access at home.  Even though this sounds like a simple suggestion, it will take time to implement here.  In the US we rely so much on the internet to do some of the work for us, and here the internet access has slowly improved and as this area continues to develop it will all become more feasible.

Another piece of the project I am assigned to is to assist in creating links to companies/potential employers, specifically trying to align with Oil and Gas companies that have set up in the region.  Obviously this would be difficult for me to do alone with my short time here but thankfully last week another joined us from VSO Netherlands as a consultant (not a volunteer).   She is great, and has a ton of experience working in different African countries and is familiar with vocational centers.  I’m working with her and my project manager to do a couple of different things such as provide a short survey to the students and teachers that will help obtain data on the where the project is now.   I also typed up some steps to take to create a new link in an industry, starting with establishing the skills needed in the field to ensure the center is in alignment, working to gain interest in potentially creating internships for the trainees, and then of course stressing the importance of constant follow up and communication once contacts are made.  Next week we will start by visiting some of the companies who have brought in and employed trainees for internships and talking with them about their experience.  I know I will learn a lot in the next month and hope to have good things to report next week.

Thanks for stopping by!

Africa skies

Howdy! Short post just for some pictures...there is just something about these Africa skies- I can’t get enough! 

Sunsets at Msemo (local restaurant/lodge)

Moon over the water

Beach sky

Rainbow after a storm

Food for Thought

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.”

On Monday, before meeting with the registrar of the Mtwara centre, I had a chance to sit with the secretary, Mama Christine Bez, have cocoa and chat for a bit and I really enjoyed it.  Her English is very good, and we talked about her family and mine, about the weather and other topics.  We also had a discussion on the kind of crops and cultivation we do and then she asked me if there was hunger in the US like in Tanzania.  While the answer to this is yes, there are people living with very little and who struggle to feed their families even in America, it was complicated for her to understand because of course it is different here, and so much of what you see on the TV and media will show that we have plenty of food and resources.  Mama even remembered some time ago when there was “yellow maize” sent from the states when Tanzania had a difficult growing season.  Life is certainly tougher here and the people continue to work so hard and have such positive attitudes, and I continue to learn there is much we take for granted back at home.

Then it was time to go into my meeting, and she asked me to please come visit her again and invited me to her home any time I wanted to stop by.   Conversations like this remind me why I am here and as I mentioned, I still have so very much to learn.  In a perfect world, no one would have to face poverty or hunger, and this centre has big plans to be a step in the right direction.  Many volunteers are working to make it sustainable so those who work and live here can continue on teaching after we are gone and help the trainees secure employment.  It isn’t easy, but nothing worth doing ever is.

I want to take a minute to share a success story of the centre and a small luxury received this week.  One of the trades taught here at VETA is food preparation, and to teach the students about the business end they have recently opened a bakery on campus (shout out to VSO advisor Claude, a great chef and teacher) and you can get rolls, baguettes, or even full fresh loaves for sandwiches for a good price a couple days a week.  YIPEE!  This was music to my ears as this is not something always readily available in this area.  It ALMOST makes me not miss cheese… almost.  Some more happiness came when they taught the students buffet style serving which means the usual rice and beans staff lunch was replaced by a delicious meal starting with a prawn cocktail.  Then we had fish with red wine reduction, beef curry, rice pilaf, chicken with white wine and mushroom sauce (hold the mushrooms for me), potatoes, and coleslaw.  We were all stuffed and happy for this little treat and the trainees did a fantastic job!!

After work the same day, my housemate Kayley, some fun Finnish folks I have met, Anna and Tuomas, along with their visiting parents who are living here in Mtwara were planning on taking out a Dhow (wooden sail/fishing boat) with a local fisherman and invited us along.  It was a bit funny and kind of like musical chairs as there were about 10 of us and we had to move around some so as to not be in the way of the sails as needed, but very peaceful and a wonderful little ride across the bay.  When we got back there was a group of children that were yelling “Take our picture!” so I did and the flash messed with it a bit but that’s the best I got!  (Anna jumped in to say hello as well). 

All and all great week so far!

Lindi Adventure

So this time of year in Tanzania, it rains almost every day.  This of course makes everything is really green and beautiful.  I am told that I have arrived at the end of the “long rains”, so this is their way of saying goodbye- go out with a bang I suppose??  Sometimes it is for hours, sometimes for only 10 minutes, the main problem is the roads are improving, as I see them daily adding drainage ditches, etc., but it still gets very muddy quickly and tough to get around the town, even with 4 wheel drive.  It took us a bit to get to Lindi but the drive was beautiful and the scenery in this area is great as you have many more hills and views of the coast.

When we finally arrived in Lindi, I got to the VSO house which currently has three volunteers living in it, to find out that Surprise! No bed sheets or pillow here as the volunteers provided their own as I had to do in Mtwara.  (I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, probably could have planned better!)  It ended up working out as I found a cloth store and purchased two meters of material to use as a sheet and also found a store that had a pretty good pillow in the market.   The volunteers living here were VERY helpful in obtaining these things and I’m very grateful.  Either way, lesson learned!  When I come up to Lindi again I’ll be more ready.   These volunteers, Nikki, Sam, and Cheeko, were also very gracious hosts, cooking dinner and entertaining me for my short stay.  

This is a Bajaj selfie- on the ride to VETA

The VETA center in Lindi is newer than the one in Mtwara and it's a bit up a hill to get there, which gives great views of the ocean (pic below).  Every morning some locals bring chappati, (similar to a tortilla, known as roti as well) and assorted goods.  They didn't have cellophane left so they improvised... :)  See pic below of Mataje (project manager) and Cheeko sampling the Bagia (Sorghum rolled and fried).

I spent time visiting workshops and meeting teachers. I also had a meeting with the registrar and reviewed the Life Skills course curriculum, and then observed one of the classes as well.  Life Skills is what I am most interested in since my objective is to get the graduates employed and this teaches a variety of things but a lot on communication as well as seeking employment and CV (resume’) writing.   Unfortunately the syllabus does not call for this portion until after I leave Tanzania, so I will not get to observe anyone actually teaching these specifics but I will work on some suggestions on layouts for Skills resumes and interview tips to assist the methods already being used.

I have now returned to Mtwara, and it is another volunteer, Kayley's birthday today so we will be going up to Mikandani (small village a bit north) to celebrate.  

I do fear that I will soon have to face the “challenge” of doing laundry without a machine-wish me luck!

Time and Patience

There are two main qualities that I have realized over the past week of being in country that one will need for this type of volunteer work- one is time and the other is patience.

Of course I miss hot showers, air conditioning, my TV shows, and consistent electricity.  This is all part of my experience here and learning how strong and how adaptable I can be in unfamiliar situations, which will certainly take time.  Sure it’s been tough but I have the strength of my family and friends back home and am starting to have the company of new friends here and I know I must make the most of it because there are people counting on me to try and bring about change and secure livelihoods in a developing society. 

Last night I went to a pig roast– the pig had been cooked in an oil drum for many hours—it was delicious!  I was invited by a fellow volunteer who has established a network of friends who have gratefully accepted me into the circle.  In the middle of eating, the power went out and as we lit the last of the candles for the table it came back on- of course!  The great part was we turned the lights back out anyway and all 7 sat there eating in candlelight just because and talked about everything from the metric system to Bruce Springsteen.  It was a lot of fun.

In my job here, time is also going to be a factor as I look at the big picture and start to see more how the project and school are working and what the challenges are I see that there are many things that need to be assessed and resolved before any process is implemented to secure the employment of these students in the long run.

This is where patience comes in.   I think that it is natural for someone who is used to the way we work ourselves to the bone in our home countries to think we are going to come in and change the world with our genius ideas and fix everything.  This will never be the case in a developing country as I am starting to see just how many small steps need to be taken to get to the end goal of the project I am on now.    I am traveling tomorrow afternoon to the other center near here in Lindi, about a 2 hour drive, and will likely have more to write after that visit.  Below are some pictures for your enjoyment from my walk on the beach this weekend.