Geographic Area
Moshi, Tanzania
Project description
For many teenagers of low class income families in general and girls in particular, the basic education ends with the primary school respectively secondary school. At the age of 16 they find themselves facing the future with no vision. A negative spiral starts with long-life consequences for the individuals and the community: No education -> no job -> no income -> no self-reliance -> complete dependency. Especially girls are at risk. If they don’t accept an well underpaid or unethical job, they are either forced into marriages, prostitution or which creates other personal and social problems.
Keep Hope Alive is a typical self-help program. The overall objective was to interrupt the poverty cycle by the means of vocational training. Training -> Increased employability -> correctly paid regular jobs -> self-reliance -> independence.
In training courses of one to several years, the students learned the required qualifications and skills . The training courses were carried out by local vocational training centers which we supported. Offered courses: tailoring, cooking, hotel management, carpenter, office administration. over the three years, over 120 teenagers got supported. Included in the program was
- 12 months course program
- food (3x)
- accommodation
- uniforms
- medical care
- field/practical work
- books
- coaching to find a job
Direct Beneficiaries
- Teenagers, from 16 to 22 years old
- Living in slum-like conditions
- Mostly girls (about 70%)
- About 30% abandoned and/or orphans
Results and Impact
Performed impact studies showed that approx 80% of the graduates have found a job 6 months after completion of the training. Some of students and depending on the type of training, started their own business. As a consequence, the first and most important objective of the project (self-reliance) was achieved. This led to:
- Economic independence
- Poverty reduction through income generation for both, the graduates and the society
- Reduction of family dysfunction due to poverty
- Girls and young women will be less likely to be forced into marriages
- Reduction youth unemployment
- Wealth creation for the local society
