Tanzania census 2022 results shows that the country has 61,741,120 people, which five time larger than 1967 census population with growth rate of 3.2 annually. More than 65% of this population are young people both in school and off school system. The country experience unemployment challenges with estimate of more than 800,000 graduates’ students annually. Tanzania government fights to ensure expansion of employment opportunities to young population through both public and private arrangements. It is debated that there should be structural changes in education system in the country to enhance skills acquisition rather than academic qualification with the current education system. With these facts’ development partners included both local and international organizations such as Switzerland Embassy , Swiss Contact , SNV and MVIWAMORO have join the government effort to enhance employment opportunities through implementation of various vocation skills development projects across the country. However, the reputation of Vocational Skills Development (VSD) is still very low in Tanzania, despite the fact that VSD can contribute to structural transformation and economic growth by enhancing employability and labor productivity and helping countries to become more competitive. Investment in a skilled workforce can create a virtuous cycle, where relevant and quality skills enable productivity growth and foreign direct investment, which result in more and better jobs for the current workforce and more public and private investment in the education and training system. This, in turn, increases the employability and productivity for both the current and future workforce. It is in this context the Embassy of Switzerland in Tanzania contracted Mtandao wa Wakulima na Wafugaji Morogoro (MVIWAMORO) to organize and implement Youth Skills Bonanza in Morogoro region.

 

MVIWAMORO in collaboration with Swiss Contact and SNV has organized Min-Bonanza in Mvomero district whereby more than 2400 people participated in the event and 193 beneficiaries of SET and OYE project attended the Min-Bonanza, five winners were selected to attend the main bonanza from 5 games played. Mvomero district council, village government and citizen both participated in Youth Skills bonanza and has increased awareness and understanding of communities on the significance of skills toward employment creation and contribution of SET and OYE project.