Our 2021 Training into Work programme is drawing to a close. We are delighted to have completed ten entry-level training courses this year.

The pandemic has impacted our 2021 plans. We had to suspend training at the Centre for Excellence in January. We also had to close for two months over the summer during Zambia’s third wave.

However despite the challenges, we rolled out six training courses at the Centre for Excellence:

• 3 x Brick and blocklaying
• 1 x Rough carpentry
• 1 x Plastering
• 1 x Floor and wall tiling – new pilot for 2021

We delivered four courses through the Rise Again Project in partnership with UP Zambia for juveniles at Katombora Reform School:

• 2 x Brick and blocklaying
• 2 x Rough carpentry

COVID and work placements

COVID-19 has brought unprecedented disruption to lives across the world, but the socio-economic impact of the pandemic continues to hit young people harder than other age groups. It is compounding their vulnerabilities in the world of work.

Work placements remain a key part of all our training courses. They open up important contacts and potential job opportunities for our trainees.

Increasing construction costs has resulted in some contractors seeking more experienced workers, rather than supporting new trainees. Some public and private projects have been halted and have yet to restart. We continue to develop relationships with contractors to help trainees into work – particularly those interested in supporting our female trainees.

Our TNZ drop-in sessions (Tilimbise Nchito Zathu – “we build on our strength”) were allowed to restart in September, following their suspension over the summer in line with COVID-19 restrictions. These sessions continue to provide the opportunity for graduates to tap into additional advice and support to find work.

Community training

Our Training into Work programme is also usually delivered through our community build projects.

During the pandemic we have been contracting smaller teams of more experienced graduates to support these projects. This has reduced the number of people on site, therefore helping to minimise possible transmission of COVID-19.

We hope to recommence training through our community build projects in 2022, starting with Zambezi Sawmills Community School.

Thank you for your support. Your generosity means we can continue supporting young people with the skills to build themselves and their communities a brighter future.