DEVELOPMENT OF TVET COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

From October 2 – 6, 2023, Don Bosco Tech Africa under the capacity building pillar of the Global Programme (GP) organized a development of TVET Communication Strategy workshop for Don Bosco Rwanda and Burundi. The workshop was held at the Salesians of Don Bosco Provincial House in Kimihurura, Kigali and brought together 15 participants including TVET Centre Managers, Job Service Officers, Province Development Office personnel, Provincial Youth Ministry Delegate, the Vice-Provincial and a volunteer from Poland. It was facilitated by Mr. Patrick Wachira, a Project Officer at DB Tech Africa and Ms. Beatrice Muya, the Communication Officer of DB Tech Africa.

The communication strategy will help the Don Bosco TVET fraternity in both countries increase the visibility of their TVET offer and programmes, as well as allow them to communicate with a broader network of stakeholders including government, civil society organizations, industries and employer associations as well as small and medium-sized business enterprises. It will assist TVET centres in increasing their advocacy, networking, and partnership-building among the partners with whom they collaborate while at the same time advocate for increased opportunities for apprenticeship, internship and job placement for Don Bosco TVET graduates.

During the workshop, the participants defined the communication strategy and set out objectives and purpose. Further, they also conducted a stakeholder mapping, identified stakeholders’ interests and areas of engagement, identified communication channels, and developed key messages to disseminate to stakeholders.

Don Bosco Tech Africa has conducted similar workshops in Malawi, Madagascar and South Sudan and these countries are in the final stages of the development of their documents which will be launched at country level in the coming months.

It is anticipated that the implementation of communication strategies together with the Job Service Officers’ Quality Manual will greatly equip Don Bosco TVET centres with progressive skills and approaches necessary in the education and labour market.