AS Tanzania grapples with persistent youth unemployment and a widening disconnect between formal education and labour market needs, skills-based interventions are increasingly being recognised as a vital pathway to economic inclusion. Across the country, vocational training and practical skills development have emerged as critical tools for preparing young people, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds for meaningful work, self-employment and entrepreneurial innovation.
The country’s youth population represents both a tremendous opportunity and a pressing challenge. Without adequate training, demographic growth risks placing further strain on the labour market, increasing unemployment and underemployment. Yet with the right interventions, young people can drive productivity, foster innovation and contribute to broader economic development. Corporateled initiatives are now stepping in to bridge the gap between education systems and labour market realities, particularly in technology-driven and technical sectors.
Against this backdrop, Vodacom Tanzania has emerged as a trailblazer. The firm recently announced a major expansion of its student sponsorship programme with Don Bosco Oysterbay Vocational Training Centre (VTC), increasing support to 1,000 students annually. The move signals a significant escalation in private sector participation in education and workforce development, reflecting a growing recognition that skill-driven empowerment is key to inclusive economic growth.
Sponsorship with purpose
The announcement was made during the 32nd graduation ceremony at Don Bosco VTC, where Vodacom Tanzania’s Commercial Business Unit Director, Ms Brigita Shirima, highlighted the shifting realities of the modern job market. “The economy increasingly rewards creativity, adaptability and hands-on competence,” she said, emphasising that skills development is no longer a luxury but a necessity for youth inclusion.
The sponsorship aims to equip young people with practical tools to secure employment, become self-employed, and contribute meaningfully to national economic growth. This approach aligns private sector investment with social impact, offering a model for sustainable youth empowerment.
Vodacom’s engagement began modestly, initially supporting 80 students per year. However, the decision to scale up to 1,000 beneficiaries annually reflects a reassessment of both the magnitude of youth unemployment challenges and the pivotal role corporations can play in addressing them. By targeting technical and vocational skills, the company positions this initiative as a long-term investment rather than a short-term philanthropic gesture.
Vodacom Tanzania’s support extends beyond tuition assistance. The company has invested in digital empowerment, offering improved access to internet services, digital skills training, and affordable smartphones. These efforts aim to reduce the digital divide, ensuring no young Tanzanian is left behind in an increasingly connected economy.
Complementing these interventions is the Vodacom Youth Base (VYB), a platform targeting young people aged 15 to 28. VYB provides resources, mentorship and digital opportunities designed to link youths with employment and entrepreneurial pathways. Through this initiative, Vodacom seeks to integrate digital literacy and vocational skills, reinforcing the synergy between traditional technical training and modern technological competencies.
The role of vocational education
Fr Sellam Augustine, SDB, ViceProvincial for the Salesians of Don Bosco in Tanzania, emphasised that vocational education remains a powerful tool for youth empowerment and community development. “These trainings do not only prepare youths for employment; they also shape responsible citizens equipped with discipline, values and the ability to contribute positively to society,” he said.
He further urged graduates to apply their education with diligence, creativity and integrity, highlighting the holistic approach Don Bosco VTC takes to skill-building. For students from low-income families, access to vocational training often determines whether they can transition from prolonged unemployment to productive participation in the economy.
Stories of transformation
The impact of Vodacom’s sponsorship is evident in the stories of individual graduates. Mr John Ottoman, one of the top performers in the electrical engineering course, shared how the support enabled him to pursue studies that would have otherwise been unaffordable. “This sponsorship helped cover part of my tuition fees, and I am now ready to continue my education so that I can become self-employed and help my community,” he said.
Similarly, Ms Mariam Msunu highlighted how Vodacom’s involvement created opportunities that would have been out of reach. Both graduates exemplify the potential of skillbased interventions to change trajectories for young people, particularly those from economically vulnerable households.
Vocational institutions like Don Bosco VTC play a critical role in equipping youths for sectors where skilled labour is in high demand, including electrical works, mechanics and technology. Access to such training has historically been limited due to cost barriers, leaving many young Tanzanians underprepared for employment opportunities. By expanding the scale of its sponsorship programme, Vodacom directly addresses this gap, ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled workers to meet market demand.
While the long-term success of the initiative will depend on graduate employment outcomes and the absorption capacity of relevant sectors, the scale of the commitment signals a deliberate, strategic approach to youth development. By moving from dozens to thousands of beneficiaries, Vodacom is betting on sustained investment in practical skills as a driver of both social and economic returns.
Private sector as a catalyst
The Vodacom-Don Bosco partnership illustrates how private sector actors can go beyond short-term corporate social responsibility programmes to implement structural solutions. By aligning investment with skills development, corporations can help young people gain marketable competencies, fostering economic participation and innovation.
Such initiatives also underscore the importance of collaboration between educational institutions, businesses, and policy frameworks. Through coordinated efforts, vocational training programmes can be more than a stopgap—they can form the backbone of strategies to reduce youth unemployment and stimulate entrepreneurship.
In a country where youth unemployment remains one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges, Vodacom Tanzania’s approach represents a model of inclusive growth. By combining financial sponsorship, digital empowerment, and access to vocational education, the company is creating pathways for young people to participate meaningfully in the economy.
This holistic strategy not only addresses immediate barriers to employment but also equips youths with adaptable skills relevant to a rapidly evolving job market. For low-income families, such interventions can dramatically alter life trajectories, transforming potential into productivity and hope into tangible economic impact.
The bigger picture
Vodacom’s initiative comes at a time when private sector participation in youth development is increasingly recognised as a crucial complement to government programmes. By scaling up its sponsorship programme, the company demonstrates how targeted, skill-focused investment can produce measurable social and economic benefits.
As Tanzania’s youth population continues to grow, bridging the gap between education and employment becomes more urgent. Programmes like Vodacom’s sponsorship, combined with digital literacy initiatives and access to modern technology, offer a promising blueprint for addressing these challenges.
Ultimately, the success of this approach will be measured not only in the number of graduates but in their ability to translate training into meaningful employment, entrepreneurial ventures and contributions to the nation’s economic growth. Through sustained investment, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to empowering young people, Vodacom Tanzania is redefining the role of corporations in shaping the future workforce.
Vodacom Tanzania’s expanded student sponsorship programme is more than a corporate initiative, it is a strategic intervention designed to bridge the gap between education and employment. By supporting 1,000 students annually at Don Bosco VTC and complementing this with digital skills programmes, the company is helping young Tanzanians turn potential into opportunity.
In doing so, Vodacom demonstrates that private sector involvement in youth empowerment can move beyond token gestures to become a long-term driver of skills development, social mobility, and inclusive economic growth. For a nation facing persistent youth unemployment, this model offers a beacon of hope: a pathway where training, technology, and targeted support converge to unlock the promise of a new generation.