Vodacom to sponsor 1,000 youths annually in skills drive

DAR ES SALAAM: VODACOM Tanzania has pledged to sponsor up to 1,000 young people annually at the Don Bosco Vocational Training Centre (VTC) aimed at equipping youth with practical skills for employment and self-employment.

The initiative is designed to prepare young people for the job market by providing hands-on technical training, while also nurturing creativity and confidence qualities increasingly vital in today’s fast-evolving, skills-driven economy.

Vodacom Tanzania’s Commercial Business Director Ms Brigita Stephen said the sponsorship reflects the company’s commitment to ensuring young people acquire relevant, market-ready skills that match the changing demands of the economy.

“Today’s job market requires more than academic qualifications. It demands practical skills, creativity and the confidence to innovate or create opportunities for oneself,” she said over the weekend.

Vodacom initially pledged to sponsor 50 students per year but later decided to significantly scale up the programme to deepen its impact and invest more meaningfully in youth development, particularly in technology, education, and access to opportunity.

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As part of its broader youth empowerment strategy, the company previously launched the Vodacom youth base, a platform targeting young people aged 15 to 28. The initiative aims to ensure that no youth is left behind in a knowledge and technologydriven economy.

This year’s 32nd graduation ceremony saw 123 students graduate, many of whom had already secured employment, a clear indication that job opportunities still exist and that demand for vocational and technical skills remains strong across the country.

“These graduates have reached an important milestone and are now beginning a new chapter in their lives. The fact that many of them already have jobs confirms that opportunities are available and that technical skills are highly sought after,” she said.