Air Conditioning Centre of Excellence at Don Bosco Boys’ Town Technical Institute

Technical and Vocational Education is the foundation of a country’s economic development. TVET produces the skilled and technical workforce necessary to restore, revitalize, energize, operate and sustain the national economy and substantially reduce unemployment.

Don Bosco Tech Africa is focused on strengthening TVET skills development programs in Don Bosco TVET institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Accordingly, in July 2021 DBTech Africa signed an MOU with Daikin Air Conditioning India Pvt Ltd with aim of creating centres of excellence in Don Bosco TVET centres. The first fruits of this partnership were witnessed on 9^th Nov 2022 when the Air Conditioning Centre of Excellence was inaugurated at Don Bosco Boys’ Town Technical Institute, Karen-Kenya.

In his welcoming remarks, Br. Francis Mulu Principal Don Bosco Boys’ Town, asserted that this partnership graces the beginning of the institute bridging the gap between training and employment most importantly in the trade of air conditioning and refrigeration.

Speaking on behalf of the trainees, Mr. John Githu thanked Daikin for this great initiative that will advance their skills and make them outstanding in the labour market. He promised that they will utilize fully the new centre and acquire new skills that will help them deliver quality services.

We are happy to have a centre of excellence in our institution that will offer training in new technology in air conditioning and refrigeration. This will help produce qualified and competent workforce that meets the labour market demands. These were the words of Fr. John Marciniak, Rector Don Bosco Boys’ Town in his address to the gathering.

On his part, Fr. George Tharaniyil Executive Director Don Bosco Tech Africa accentuated that this partnership is a great opportunity for young people to achieve competent skills that will offer them decent employment and hence have a quality life. It is a win-win situation whereby Don Bosco will offer quality training with the support of Daikin. On the other hand, Don Bosco will help in taking the Daikin brand to greater heights.

The Director General of the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) through his speech read by Mr. Festus Musyoki conveyed his gratitude to Daikin for the commendable job they are undertaking in assisting Kenya to move forward in bridging the skills development gap. “Your motivation to redefine skills development and landscape in Kenya with newer training technology is an inspiration to all,” he affirmed. Integrating youths into the labour market is a major challenge in the developing world hence Daikin company has come at a better time.

Deputy Managing Director Daikin India Mr. Toshiharu Tsurumaru, expressed they are happy to have this partnership and that they aim to offer quality equipment and quality installation skills. He affirmed that they will continuously support Don Bosco Institutions in the whole of Africa.

Fr. Simon Asira, Provincial AFE province affirmed that the partnership with Daikin company is a continuation of Don Bosco’s mission. He expressed his gratitude to Daikin for providing modern equipment to enhance skills development that will enable generate qualified personnel just as Don Bosco did in his time.

Don Bosco Tech Africa looks forward to forming more partnerships with both the public and private sectors in order to empower young people in Africa and improve their quality of life.