ILO supports youth through Apprenticeship programme in hotel operations

Dar es Salaam (ILO NEWS) Starting a new life in Dar es Salaam was a night mare for young Kubona Hungwi who came all the way from Northern Tanzania, Shinyanga region. However, means of survival in the city without a proper income generating activity was a major issue of concern for him.

Kubona, (26), is one of the beneficiaries of the International Labour Organization (ILO) apprenticeship programme in Tanzania. He is willing to share with us an inspiring story.

Kubona arrived in Dar es Salaam in early 2010 believing that life was easy and he could easily get a job to become well-off within a short period of time. That was what he thought! However, the true picture about life in the city unfolded after being in the city just for a few days. He came to realize that life hardships in the city surpassed those in the village he hails from.

His daily bread became a serious challenge to the extent that he resorted to slashing grass at the University of Dar es Salaam main campus, earning approximately Tsh 80, 000 (USD 37) only as monthly wage.

“That was the toughest moment in my life. I developed a permanent body fatigue and exhausted, yet I had no alternative…I always arrived early at the green grounds believing that one day things will change to the better…” he explains.

In 2011 Kubona secured a new temporary job at a local milling flour factory earning Tsh 6,000 equivalent to 3 USD a day, the amount that made a huge difference in his life.

“…The amount was not sufficient but helped me to regain ‘independence’ as I managed to rent a room on my own at Tsh 30,000 (USD 14) per month…”

One day, while on duty, Kubona learnt from one of his relatives about some opportunities offered by the ILO for youth to undergo apprenticeship training in hotel operations.

“I had no time to waste. I immediately applied, and was selected to join the training; the fact that ILO was to take care of my studies that was yet another historic moment for me bearing in mind that it was not easy to get a college education for free,” he observes.

He attended the apprenticeship training programme for two years (2014/15) after which he was awarded a certificate and got employed at Holiday Inn Hotel in Dar es salaam in which he trained as an apprentice .The employment offer was given even before completing his studies.

“… Today I can pay my bills and I have started to engage myself in agriculture as another source of income; I recently harvested 11 bags of rice expecting to sell them at Tsh100, 000 (USD 48) each which I consider as a great achievement…” he explains.

“…I appreciate the professionalism extended through the programme and I am extremely delighted and thankful to ILO for the opportunity given to me at a time of despair.” He concluded.

Kubona is one of the 41 beneficiaries of the ILO supported certified apprenticeship programme in hotel operations in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. A model programme which if well supported and expanded will eliminate the challenge of longer school to work transition periods among college graduates in Tanzania.

Albert Okal, a National Programme Coordinator – Skills Development from the ILO Office in Dar es Salaam, commenting on the programme, he says, “…The apprenticeship programme is a unique approach which exposes young people to the realities of their career of choice early on in life, that way, young people identify more with what they learn and get the opportunity to develop broad understanding of their career paths and options”.

The programme, which commenced in 2014 has been designed to provide employers with unique opportunity to mould their future employees to the standards, skills, competencies and attitude they want, providing them with recruitment options after completion of training.

Considering that the programme is so effective, some employers offer the apprentices permanent job contracts before they formally finish their programme for fear of losing them to competitors.

Due to growing demand and support from government, the ILO is now working with partners to expand to other sectors as well as new locations. Whereas a new pilot programme is scheduled to be launched in Zanzibar by November 2016, consultations are already underway in the mainland to develop new formal apprenticeships in other sectors in collaboration with the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) and the Ministry of Labour, Employment Youth and people with Disabilities, for execution by January 2017.

Certified apprenticeship programme in Hotel operations is a two year programme accredited by National Council for Technical Education

(NACTE) and offered in close collaboration between National college of tourism and Partner Hotels under the leadership of Hotels Association (HAT) and Tourism confederation of Tanzania (TCT). The programme is designed in such a way that, when the apprentices finally graduate, they not only acquire an occupation but also relevant work experience that readily prepares them for work with no supervision required upon their graduation.

Through this approach 60 % of the training is done at the workplace covering mainly practical skills, work attitude and culture. The 40% is done at college training covering the theoretical aspects and related subjects including basics in sales, computer skills, communication and interpersonal skills.