Episode #03 - What is the Labour Market?
Testimonial case story: Mageta Modikayo Fanuel 
                           
I am Mr. Mageta Modikayo Fanuel a.k.a Meja, im a VETA trained Mechanical Artisan and I am 28 years old. I come from Mara and I first arrived in Tegeta, Dar es Salaam in 2002 when I was eight years old accompanying my grandmother who wanted to visit her daughter, my aunty and my father’s sister. I didn’t know that my father had already agreed with his sister, that I start Standard 1 in Wazo Hill Primary School. Back in my village, I was already registered in primary school and had reached Standard 2. But my learning so far could not match that of Standard 3 in Dar Es Salaam, I could not read and write yet and my Swahili was very basic as I was speaking my native language Luo.

I remember that staying in Dar es Salaam seemed like a privilege. Here I only went to school, unlike in the village where I had to graze the cattle and work on the family farm even if I was only eight years old. My primary school time in Dar was full of energy, I was performing and interacting with fellow students as well as teachers. I attended the Seven Day Adventist Church of my aunty. My involvement in religious activities increased my God fearing and I was seen as a person with good morals and values. At church, I made a friend who was a bit older than me, I got a lot of information about schooling and careers from him. This friend of mine got selected to join Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) for a diploma in Mechanical Engineering. His excitement increased my wish for the same and he became my role model. That was the first time my dream of becoming a mechanical technician was ignited. From then on, I called myself ‘Engineer Meja’. 

I finished primary school in 2010 and was selected to join a government ward secondary school which was a distance from my home, Twiga Secondary School. I wanted to study science subjects to accomplish my dream, but that was not easy and lead to poor performance. I had to work hard, attending different tuition centres, group discussions, and knocking on the teacher’s doors to get extra tuition to improve my performance. On the internal exams in both Form 2 and Form 4 mock exams I got an average of Cs. I was not performing well for various reasons, there were not enough teachers in school, I had to find help on my own, but tuition was expensive and my guardian, my aunty could not afford that. She had other children in school, and she was a widow with no consistent income. In addition, I also had examination ‘fever’, a week before exams I would get sick, so was doing most of my exams full of anxiety.

When I was in Form 4 before the final exams our class teacher handed out the SELform to all the Form 4s. He explained that we had to choose the combinations and the school we wanted for A-level or colleges studies. He let us take the SELform home so that we could choose with support from our parents/guardians. I went straight to my friend Mwita who helped me fill in the form. I focused on Mechanical Engineering in DIT and Arusha Tech, I didn’t bother filling in other options for schools. It was a sad and frustrating time when the Form 4 results came. Everyone would ask ‘how were your exam results?’ I would hide and felt embarrassed as I got Division 4 with 26 points, which meant I could not go to the college I was hoping for. I felt resigned and was thinking that maybe it was time to return to the village in Mara and help my father with the farm. My dreams would end here!

But my cousin's brother was concerned with my education, he believed that I could make it as I have a supportive character and morals. He advices me to join VETA. I did not like the idea at first, VETA has a reputation as being only for ‘failures’. But I had no choice as I wanted to have a profession to support me and the family back home. So, I did the VETA admission exams, performed very well and was selected. I took a three-year level three certificate course in ‘fitting engineering’, to become a professional fitting artisan. College life was a bit better than O-level as I knew a lot about science subjects despite doing poorly in exams. Now I was even helping others in the college to solve physics and math calculations. My cousin was supporting my school fees and living expenses. Sometimes there were delays receiving the funds to pay for fees, I was nearly suspended a few times, but I managed to get through. I was lucky to graduate with no debts.

Today I am employed as a Mechanical Artisan in the Coast Concrete Palls Limited (CCPL) in Bagamoyo. This is my first proper job that relates to what I have studied. Immediately after graduating from VETA, I did an internship in a small fitting mechanic’s workshop, Mikoko Engineering, in the Mageraji area at Tegeta, Dar es Salaam. It was not an easy job because I was considered a student while I had financial demands to make a living. The management would sometimes provide tsh 3000 a day while the food itself was 2000, so many times I had to skip lunches to be able to save some amount. I kept looking for a better job, and I told everyone I knew about my job hunting. One day I got a call to attend an interview in Swissport for a Ramp Agents position. I was selected and could hardly believe it! It was like my dream came true. I felt like I was finally somebody, getting on the staff buss to work, putting on a uniform, working in an airplane. But a few months later, in 2020 COVID hit the world and most airports closed and staff, me included got suspended. When I got my suspension letter, I was so frustrated, I couldn't believe it.  It was like I had been dreaming and now someone was waking me up. I returned to where I had been doing an internship, now with a little more experience. This time I was saving so that I could travel to my village in the Mara region where I was born, to see my parents and other relatives. 

This profession has its challenges but also some opportunities.  We are now living in the industrial economy (uchumi wa viwanda) which means that more manufacturing will be conducted, and more mechanical artisans, technicians, and engineers will be needed. Getting a proper and permanent job is a big challenge but there are lots of gigs around these professions as a freelancer, and one can work in garages and fitting workshop.  It’s a challenge to run your own business though as getting the equipment would be very expensive. One day I’d like to upgrade to a diploma or degree and become an engineer.

All in all, I am grateful for all the support my family and friends have provided during my career journey and foremost I thank God, who is our saviour and redeemer.

Episode #05 - Secondary school performance
Testimonial case story: Laisha Ramadhani Ngomandodo

My name is Laisha, I’m 34, and a secondary school teacher. I’m also a counsellor and a Femina club mentor at my school. I was born in Tanga region, but then my older half-sister who was married and had two boys took me to Mbeya where the couple were running businesses. I grew up in that household and my sister, who wanted a girl child, was very supportive.

We moved to Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam, when I was in primary, Standard 5. I schooled at Uhuru Mchanganiko and completed Standard 7 and was then selected to attend Juhudi secondary day school in Ilala I completed Form 4 but did not qualify with the right qualification to go to government high school for A levels, with my preferred combination History Kiswahili Language (HKL). I was good in languages, but I got D in history. Then I was enrolled at Midlands, a private high school in Kimara. They accepted me on condition I repeat history to get the full credit I missed. After completion of Form 6, I waited for the results hoping to be able to go to university.

One day my aunt, who worked in the education sector at NECTA, gave me a paper and told me to sign. It was an application to a teacher training college. My aunt was trying to be helpful and saw an opportunity for me. But she should have talked to me first, I did not want to go to teacher training college, my dream was to study accounting or law. I was upset but I kept quiet and signed.

Some months later, in 2009, I got a letter from Dakawa teachers’ college, in Morogoro, announcing that I had secured a place, and joining instructions were attached. I was really upset then, thinking - why did they make a choice without asking me, why did they push me to sign when I didn’t want to be a teacher? No one talked to me, no one asked me about my wishes. My relatives told me to get ready, pack and travel to Morogoro. I felt pain inside, but I feared to be ungrateful, and I didn’t say anything.

The college was boarding. It was tough, the students had to go out and find firewood. Our freedom was taken away, it felt like a prison. I used to cry and phone my sister and ask if I could return home. She told me to cool down explaining that with time I would learn to cope. After a while I was chosen to be a leader, a minister for education in the student government. I was shy, my body is small and thin, and I did not have much self-confidence. As a student leader I sat with the lecturers and discussed curricula and shared students’ perspectives. It gave me more confidence and it taught me to never be afraid of discussions with elders. The experience and new exposure at college served me well in the end.  

In 2012 when I was 24 years old, I finished my teacher training with a two-year diploma. In 2013 I was offered an opportunity to teach at Juhudi secondary school where I had schooled myself. I was placed in the Kiswahili department; my subjects were English and Kiswahili. In 2014 I was placed in English department where am working until now.
A few years later in 2017, I got an opportunity to do a degree, a Bachelor of Art in Education at the Open University of Tanzania. Focus was on counselling but also public administration and management. I went for lectures, got notes from internet, did exams and paid school fees. I got to know many fellow students and the teamwork was good. It took me three years but it was a period of growth.  I continued teaching at Juhudi and was soon appointed the student counsellor of the school. As the Fema club mentor in our school I have also attended several trainings and meetings with Femina Hip. 

In 2009 at a St Mathew Form 4 graduation party of a family member, I met my future husband. We were both there photographing, and we hit it off. We had a love marriage a few years later, and now we have two boys eight and five years and many businesses together.

Since many years I have also been doing small scale businesses. I take spices especially vanilla from Kampala and Bukoba where my husband has family. We dry, package, and sell it to whole sellers who export it. I also try to help my husband in our shop, where we sell maize, rice, beans, palm oil, sunflower oil, charcoal which we source from upcountry, Morogoro, and Njombe. We do tenders for delivery of rice, beans and other foodstuffs to boarding schools. I’m also a Leader in the Efatha Church, I’m the chairperson of the administrative committee, in the Church as well as the assistant secretary. I am there every Sunday from 6 am to 1pm.

The opportunity that comes with teaching is a flexible time schedule, I work from 7.00 am but am back home at 2.30 pm and I can do lots of other things. I also have time off, weekends and holidays. As a teacher I feel respected and looked up to. The challenge with teaching, is that if you stay in one place for a long time it becomes tedious and boring. It is not easy to change schools in the government system. You must incur all cost for moving yourself. Also, I use a lot of energy in my teaching job, which isn’t well paid, the salary and pension are small, I earn more on my businesses.

My dream, my aspiration right now is to quit my job as a teacher and do other work in the government offices. I want to work with people, but I want to be more independent, and not have to follow rules and regulations all the time.

Episode #07 - Hard and soft skills for work
Testimonial case story: Leon Erasmi Massawe

I was born in Rombo in Kilimanjaro region, I am 30 years old. We are four children in the family, I am the first born. I went to Manjoro Primary School in my village and graduated in 2007. My dad did not get a chance to go to school after primary. He performed well and was accepted to Tanga Technical School, but his father destroyed his acceptance letter because he believed that if he went to Tanga he would disappear as there were many rumours of witchcraft there.

My dad was very clever, but as he missed his chance to go for further education, he made sure I did well in school so that I could get a chance instead. He read lots of books and newspapers both in English and Kiswahili and thereby educated himself. I performed extremely well in primary. I loved English, mathematics, and science subjects. 
I was selected to join Ilboru Secondary school, one of the special government boarding schools in Arusha. It was a historical performance, so I was invited by the regional commissioner and awarded some money. My father and my family were very proud!

The life in Ilboru secondary school was a challenge as it was very competitive, most of the students were high performers. Imagine being number one in primary school and then, I was not even in the top 20! I had been speaking Swahili and Chaga all during primary school, but in secondary school everyone had to switch to English which was the language of instruction. I struggled and had to push myself, missing my father who had always been the one supporting my studies. When I was in form three things changed for the better. I had made efforts to gain confidence by improving my English and participating in debates and morning speech sessions. I also ran for a leadership position when I was in form two and got selected to be the secretary of the dormitory. Later I ran to become a prefect and with time when I was in Form 3, I was elected to become a minister of sport and entertainment. Becoming a leader in secondary school we had to follow a formal process, you had to apply, be vetted by teachers, run a campaign, and be elected by the students who voted for their leaders. I also loved sports and volleyball; I was on the school team but even played for the national team during my secondary school years.

After passing my Form 2 exams, I chose the Science stream. When in Form 4 time came to fill in the SELform to choose the combination and schools we wanted, if continuing to high school, Form 5&6, or other education institutions for more technical training. We were given a chance to ask for advice from teachers and parents. The SELform was also placed on the noticeboard at the school. I was selected to join Same Secondary School for 5&6 though it was not my first choice. I wanted to remain in Ilboru but with my pass marks of Division 1 with 9 points was not good enough according to the school criteria. In Same I studied a combination of PCM (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics). I was again challenged by other students coming from Dar es Salaam, they were ahead in class because they had extra tuition during holidays. I had to work even harder to cope. 

At Same school there was a very active Fema club, I was exposed by a friend who was active member and I joined. As I am passionate about leadership, I got elected as the head boy of our school as well as the chairperson of the Fema club. My ability to deliver speeches gave me an advantage in winning those leadership positions. Being an active member and leader of the Fema club gave me lots of opportunities.  My first visit to Dar es Salaam was with the club. It was a privilege as every youth from upcountry dreams about visiting the city. I was invited to attend the annual Fema Youth Conference there, staying in a hotel, interacting with students from all over the country as well as with the Femina Hip staff.

I graduated in 2014 with good grades in Division 2. This allowed me to join the University of Dar es Salaam where I studied for a bachelor’s in Science with Education. While in University the dream of becoming a geologist grew in me, but I was discouraged by my family. They did not think that profession was appropriate to our family background, as there are no highly educated people among us, so they thought it better I choose the teaching profession.  They also argued that employment for geologists was a problem and there was no government loan for that profession. When I did my BA in Education, I had had a 100% loan in support of my education.

At University I found I took leadership even more seriously, and political discussions were promoted. I joined the CCM ruling party and becoming one of them, following different leaders and attending symposiums. At the end of my first year there were elections, and I stood as candidate for the position of class representative, which I won. At the end of the second year there was another election and now I went for the President position of the student government. People were surprised as I was young and small in body size, the position was very competitive and required financial resources. I convinced myself that I could make it. I really put my mind to it and did what I was supposed to do. When the campaigning started, I followed the procedures and did promotion through posters, fliers, video clips stating my manifest. When they counted the ballot, it was clear, I had won the position! Being the student’s president at university was hard work, you must practice proper leadership taking on responsibility by attending meetings with professors and boards, and you are asked to make big decisions.  Yet, even though I had a busy life at university, I still managed to graduate in 2017.

After university I got a chance to work as an intern at Femina Hip in Dar es Salaam, managing their social media accounts. I enjoyed working with the organisation and tried applying for a job so that I could become staff, but they were unable to offer me a more permanent position. I then applied to several schools to become a teacher, I had several offers but, in the end, I selected Msolwa, St. Gaspar Beritoni High School in Morogoro. This was my dream school and after a few years teaching Mathematics and Chemistry, I became the assistant academic master. Apart from being a teacher, I hold other positions, some in the CCM party, but I am also a country director, managing an organisation called Africa Youth Leaders Connect, founded by Mr. Laurence Mwaitimwa. The organisation connects youth leaders in secondary schools and universities in Africa. So far, we have connected students from Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya and Namibia - @africayoungleadersconnect.

Episode #09 - Digital Literacy 
Testimonial case story: Shadrack Cosmas Maluli

My name is Shadrack Cosmas Maluli, I was born in 1999, as the fifth of six children. We are three brothers and three sisters. My dad moved from Iringa to Mbeya in the 1990s looking for better work opportunities as a welder and car mechanic. We children grew up in Mbeya.
I went to a government school, Jitegemee Primary School in Mbalizi, Mbeya. I graduated in 2011 and passed my exams but got second selection. I then joined a private school called Onika Secondary School.

In Form 1 my performance was quite good, my teachers took an interest and selected me to become a scout leader. I remember, that surprised many because I was thin, very quiet and calm youth. But the teachers warned the other students not to take advantage of my quietness as I performed my tasks very well.

In Form 2, my life became more chaotic. My dad's business went downhill, and the economy of the family suffered. The school was located far away, and there was no money for transport. I would start walking from home at 5 am to reach school at 7 am. It was tiresome, only a few times would I get a lift from friends who had a bicycle. Even worse was that my school fees were not paid on time, and for the second term, the fees were not paid for in its entirety. I became known as the regular ‘fee defaulter’ which was stressful, and I missed lots of classes. The most humiliating moment was during my Form 2 national exams when the teachers asked me to leave the examination room and said I could not return.  That day I cried and hated myself, my family, and my school. 

After this I stayed home and worked in my dad’s garage. All the boys in the family had to help out when we were not in school. Even my brother, who went to the University of Dodoma assisted in the garage when he came home for holidays. It was our family culture to help each other. 

In 2013 one of my brothers, who lived in Dar es Salaam and worked in the fashion industry arranged for me to join him so I could continue my studies. The plan was to restart in Form 1. I went for an interview and got a chance to join Makongo Secondary School, but my brother then came up with the idea of QT schooling, which means you study secondary school within two years as a private candidate. I liked the idea as it would save me time and I could combine it with work in my brother’s studio that deals with fashion and graphic design. That’s where my interest in IT started.

During the first year of my QT I combined the Form 1 and 2 syllabus, and I did very well. It was a good environment, and I was studying with mature people. I could plan my studies on my own, the companionship with the other students was good, we motivated and encouraged each other to perform. I took the Form 2 national exams and passed well. In the second year, which combined Form 3 and 4 things became chaotic again. The school fees were not paid on time and in the end, I was again kicked out of school. But as a private candidate I could sit for my Form 4 national exam anyway and I did. When the results came it showed that I had failed. I was very depressed and from then on, I gave up on school. I told my brother and father that I didn’t want to study anymore.

Now all my energy and concentration went into my brother’s small company. I would help with the graphics for promotion of his fashion and modelling events, I did photography, and sometimes tailoring after he had made designs and cut the fabrics. I learned a lot about the fashion and clothing sector while helping him.

Since primary school, I had been fond of arts as I can draw well. I used to help other students and teachers with their teaching materials that needed illustrations. So I knew I wanted to do arts, but I never knew I could be good at graphic design until I touched the computer and saw the design programs in my brothers’ studio. When my brother shifted his office to an art center called Nafasi Art Space in 2017, I got connected to RUKA Creatives, a company that deals with graphic design and had an internship program for young graphic designers. I joined and that’s when I understood that I could make graphic design my profession and work in both the creative sector as well as in the IT sector. One thing lead to another and while at RUKA I got a scholarship to study motion graphics. I did a six months’ training in that as well. Now I am a graphic and motion graphic designer, working in the creative and IT industry. I can do graphics, animation, illustration, live streaming, video editing, photography, install software and basic computer troubleshooting. My dream now is to study motion graphics abroad as I don’t see myself as a professional yet. Most Tanzanian animators know just the basics and as that is what they are taught. For the rest you have to be creative and learn from YouTube and from other colleagues. I would also like to work on my own illustrations and sell them on online platforms.

Today I work as a freelancer; the main challenge is that I don’t have sustainable employment and income. It is challenging that there are so many complicated clients, some pretend to know a lot, some do not understand what good designing is, some do not pay on time. Another challenge is the timing; it is very hard to get the design concept right when you have a tight deadline. Many clients don’t value graphics, so they pay very little. Another challenge is that some clients require receipts, and as I am not a registered business yet and don’t have an office it is difficult to provide such documentation. I also wish I had better equipment, like a more powerful computer but it is expensive, and I haven’t got those resources yet. 

The benefits I gain is that I work with something I love, and I get quick money. It feels good when you get a unique graphic design idea and make a customer satisfied. And I meet new and interesting people every day, that inspires me!

Episode #11 - Finding employment
Testimonial case story: Majuka Ololkeri 

My name is Majuka and I am 36 years old. I am a Masai coming from Kibirashi village in Handeni, Tanga region. I grew up with my parents wandering with the cattle. I was the first in my family to go to school and reach higher education. My family settled in Kibarashi village and that is where I went to primary school. For secondary school I attended a day ward school, Handeni secondary school. I passed my Form 4 exams and was selected to go for A levels at Same Secondary School in Kilimanjaro region.

While waiting for my results, I went to Zanzibar and worked as a security guard on the beach with my fellow Masai Moran. I made jewelry to generate income, save money and help me sustain my life in Zanzibar. When the A level results came out, I did not qualify to continue to university education. I had to reassess my education plans and think about saving more money. Soon I returned to Dar es Salaam as a security guard.  I got a job in the house of the Country director of Education Development Centre (EDC).  To keep awake at night, I continued my creative work making Masai jewelries. With my savings I could join a computer course at University of Dar es Salaam Computing Centre (UCC), where I was awarded an advanced certificate in Computer applications. Later on EDC was looking for a radio technician and I could apply as I now had good computer knowledge. Among the 45 interviewees I was selected. I was proud and worked at EDC for four years until the program ended in 2005.  

Later that year I got an opportunity to go for further training in Holland, at the Radio Netherland Training Centre, where I got a certificate in soap and drama production. When I returned from Holland, I was recruited by the Executive Director of Femina Hip, and I started working with the media education platform as a radio and print editor. I was employed there for 13 productive years. During this time, I also completed a Degree, a BA in Mass Communication at The Open University of Tanzania. For the past years I have been working as a freelancer doing film, video graphics, photography and any communication related work.

In addition to my work and employment experiences, I am an activist who volunteers and am engaged in community work. With my fellow Masai Moran, I started a local non-governmental organization. We have done dance performances and hair braiding and have tried to find ways we can earn income while maintaining our cultural traditions. We saved collectivity and invested in building a school and classrooms in our home Elerai village, registered as Elerai Primary school.  We believe education is a must for the welfare of our Masai people, girls included.