Vocational training is very important in Africa. A sound education opens the door to the job market or to self-employment and offers the chance to earn one's own living and to live a self-determined life.

That is why we, Herrnhuter Missionshilfe HMH, support several vocational training centers in Tanzania, with particular emphasis on the sustainability of the projects. "It is important to us not to leave the students alone after they finish school," says Pastor Raimund Hertzsch, Chairperson of HMH. "We want to be able to offer our school leavers an apprenticeship and thus show them a way out of poverty. That's why our school principals work closely with surrounding businesses. There's no point in providing students with qualified training and then offering them no prospects."

Construction of the new Vocational Training Center in Sumbawanga started in the fall of 2020. It was built on the grounds of the African Rainbow School and gives students the opportunity to attend Vocational Training Center directly after graduation thanks to short distances and a familiar environment.

The focus of the Vocational Training Center is on the training areas of plumber, electrician as well as training in the areas of computers and business administration. The school is to be equipped with sustainable and stable teaching and building materials in order to give the young people an effective and safe opportunity to learn a trade.

The construction of the Vocational Training Center was supported by the Wörwag family and WÖRWAG Pharma GmbH & Co. KG as well as some individual donors.

The Vocational Training Center in Kyela was founded in February 2002 by its first director Michael Kajuni and the Moravian Church in Tanzania (Southern Province).
Currently, about 110 students study at Kyela VTC and attend the following courses: carpentry and joinery, tailoring, electromechanics and automotive mechanics, each with 2 years of training.

Computer courses and a driving school are also available. The school offers a well-equipped computer room, a large workshop for the carpentry students, a tailoring workshop equipped with sewing machines and a special classroom for practical training in electrical installation.

Currently, the school employs 7 full-time teachers and 2 part-time teachers.

The Vocational Training Center Ileje is located in the village of Isongole, on the border with Malawi. The VTC was founded in 2006 by the Moravian Church in Tanzania (Southern Province) with the support of the Zeister Zending Genootschap ZZg.

Currently, about 56 students study at Ilieje VTC and attend the following courses: carpentry and joinery, tailoring and electromechanics (each 2 years of training). Computer and home economics courses are also offered. The school also has a computer room, a workshop and a tailoring workshop. Currently, the school employs 5 full-time teachers.

The Vocational Training Center in Songea was founded in 2014 by the Moravian Church in Tanzania (Southern Province) with the support of the Wörwag family, Wörwag Pharma GmbH & Co. KG as well as Herrnhuter Missionshilfe HMH.

The following training courses are offered Electrical installation and tailoring (training period 2 years), carpentry, joinery (between 3 months and 1 year) and a computer course (between 2 weeks and 6 months). A workshop for car mechanics was built in 2019, and since 2020 the center also offers a course in car mechanics.

Currently, 65 students attend the school and there are 7 full-time teachers employed.

In the urban environment of the VTC, there are business enterprises and small craft companies where the trainees can do an internship. This cooperation is important and helps to integrate the young people into the professional world.

The Vocational Training Center in Namtumbo was founded in 2016 by the Moravian Church in Tanzania (Southern Province). Namtumbo is located in the south of Tanzania in a very rural area, there is no educational institution in the vicinity. It is the 2nd VTC that was financed by the Wörwag family and WÖRWAG Pharma GmbH & Co. KG financed.

The following apprenticeships are offered: car mechanics, electrical installation and tailoring (training period 2 years). In addition, a computer course (between 2 weeks and 6 months) can be taken.

Currently, 45 students attend the school and there are 5 full-time teachers. In rural areas, a dormitory building is of particular importance. In 2019, one building each for girls and boys and a teacher's house could be completed.

The Vocational Training Center in Rungwe was founded by missionaries as early as 1903, making it the oldest VTC in Tanzania. In the beginning, mathematics and practical skills for building houses were taught. Over time, other core subjects were added.

The school was officially registered by the Tanzanian government in 1976. The center encourages and supports especially young people from poor backgrounds to receive vocational training. All graduates of the center receive the support that enables them to start their own handicraft business.

The following courses are currently offered: car Mechanics, Electrical Installation, Tailoring, Carpentry and Joinery. In addition, other specific courses can be taken in math, computers, English, and communication skills.

Currently, more than 100 students are enrolled at Rungwe. The dormitories provide accommodation for 60 and 40 students respectively. There are currently 14 full-time teaching staff.

The Moravian Church Vocational Training Center in Mbeya MVTC was established in 2000. It is registered with the Tanzanian Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA). The goal of the school is to provide young people, regardless of gender or religious background, with educational and technical training at a national level. It promotes entrepreneurship among students in all courses.

The capacity of the center is 450 students, with about 400 currently enrolled. The following courses are offered: Carpentry and Joinery, car Mechanics, Electrical Installation (including Solar Energy), Secretarial Courses, Design, Sewing and Clothing Technology. All students receive the tools necessary to start their own business upon graduation. Other courses such as computer applications, English, food production or hotel management can also be taken. The school includes 2 computer labs with 50 computers and a stable internet connection. A professionally equipped workshop offers the best conditions for a sound education.

The Vocational Training Center in Chunya was founded in 2014 by the AIDS Orphans Aid donor group through Dean Dr. Jochen Tolk. Orphans in particular are to be offered a sound education. They receive school materials and hygiene articles.

2-year courses in tailoring, electrical installation and computers are offered. In addition to the 4 classrooms, there is a teacher's house, a dining room with kitchen and a dormitory for girls on the compound.

The goal of the facility is to combat the youth employment crisis in Tanzania and empower youth from poor backgrounds through vocational training to live independently and sustainably and generate their own income.

The Vocational Training Center in Ilindi was also founded in 2014 by the AIDS Orphans Aid donor group through Dean Dr. Jochen Tolk. Especially young people from poor backgrounds in the rural areas are to be offered a sound education here as well. These young people regularly receive school materials and hygiene articles.

Currently, about 20 girls are being trained as tailors.

It was possible to build 2 classrooms and a teacher's house. This is very important especially in rural areas to get well trained teachers.

The Kakozi Vocational Training Center in southwestern Tanzania is the 3rd school financed by the Wörwag family and WÖRWAG Pharma GmbH & Co. KG financed. It was officially opened by Dr. Marcus Wörwag at the end of 2016. Kakozi is located in the southwest of Tanzania and close to the Zambian border.

It also opens up the possibility of vocational training to young people in the border region. Two buildings with a total of four classrooms, a kitchen, one dormitory each for girls and boys, and a teacher's house were completed on the site between 2015 and 2019.

Courses in electrical installation, tailoring, hotel management, agriculture and computers are offered to the more than 60 students per year.