Cypress Hill Vocational Training Centre

Project purpose

The Cypress Hill Vocational Centre was created in 2008 to provide vocational training and medical care to impoverished families and those affected by HIV/AIDS. The project was set up and funded by Community Projects Africa (CPA) which was established as a charity in 2003 following a visit to Tanzania by its founder Joy Skipper. The Cypress Hill Vocational Centre offers skill development programmes in Tailoring and English (since July 2010) and Horticulture (since January 2012). The Centre provides the students with opportunities that they may otherwise not have, and by improving job acquisition skills they are better able to become economically and socially independent by becoming employed or self-employed.

Project approach

The English language and Tailoring classes are delivered through a classroom based approach with a qualified teacher in each subject.  Courses run for six months and there are two intakes per year, January and July.  Because many of the students come from very remote areas they are able to board during their time at the centre.  CPA rents local houses, one for males and one for females, however, the charity is currently trying to source funding to build a women’s hostel for boarding students to reduce the Centre’s on-going costs and improve sustainability.  In January 2012 a Horticulture course will be implemented at the centre and English and Tailoring students will have the option to study this also.  It will be a practical course in Shamba (small holding) management techniques.   

There are plans for a medical service to be provided at the Centre which will not only cater for the students, but around 6,000 members of neighbouring communities.  It is hoped that this service will be implemented in 2012. 

Although the Centre is currently fully funded by CPA the long-term aim is for it to be self-sustainable. Plans to achieve this are underway. For example, produce grown as part of the Horticulture course will be sold in the local community and used to provide meals for boarding students.

Key benefits and impact

• Students range in age from 16 – 35 years
• They come from the rural communities of Engaruka, Gelai Bomba, Loksale, Monduli , Karatu and Kondoa Districts
• At present there are 47 students attending the centre; 23 English students and 24 Tailoring students
• Since classes commenced in January 2010 a total of 162 students have been trained; 72 in English and 90 in Tailoring
• English language students have been known to go on to become tour guides or have been employed by private medium nursery schools
• Tailoring students have started their own tailoring marts and some have secured employment with private tailoring mart owners.
  

We want to hear from you: post a comment 

Please share your tips, comments or questions below (your email address will not be displayed).