Job Service Officers’ Quality Manual Review Workshop

Don Bosco Tech Africa (DBTA), in collaboration with Don Bosco Youth Network West Africa (DBYN), Jugend Eine Welt, and Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo (VIS), organized a three-day Job Service Officers’ (JSO) Quality Manual Review Workshop from 29^th September to 1^st October 2025. The workshop took place in Nairobi and brought together Province TVET coordinators (P-TVETs) and JSOs across nine countries; DRC, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Madagascar, alongside the DBTA Office team.

Br. John Ngigi Njuguna, Don Bosco Tech Africa Deputy Director and Ms. Prossy Ogwang, Gender Advisor, Uganda and Rwanda (AGL Vice Province), facilitated the workshop centred on refining the JSO Quality Manual with a dedicated focus on gender mainstreaming and inclusion. Over three intensive days, participants engaged in foundational discussions, practical tool development, and final consensus-building sessions that ensured inclusivity strategies were fully integrated into the Manual’s core missions.

The review process aligned with global standards and the Salesian heritage, reinforcing the commitment to ensure that every young person, especially the most vulnerable, has equal access to opportunities in education, training, and employment. By the close of the workshop, participants had finalized a comprehensive roadmap to institutionalize the updated Manual, marking a significant milestone in strengthening DBTA’s Job Service Offices as anchors of inclusive and sustainable youth empowerment. A drafting team was appointed to develop the final draft of the Manual, paving the way for institutional adoption.

In their closing reflections, Br. John Ngigi Njuguna and Ms. Prossy Ogwang expressed gratitude to the participants for their commitment throughout the review process. Br. John underscored the vital role of Job Service Offices in ensuring a smooth transition from school to the workforce, reminding all that training remains incomplete unless young people successfully enter the labour market. He urged collective effort to reduce barriers to employment and to recognize JSOs as a critical pillar in skills development and youth empowerment. Echoing this, Prossy praised the dedication and resilience of the Job Service Officers, noting that their unwavering commitment, even amidst challenges, is both inspiring and a testament to the heart they put into empowering young people.

In his concluding remarks, Fr. Maximus Okoro, Don Bosco Tech Africa Director, reminded participants that true inclusion is rooted in the Salesian spirit, listening to the voices of the young, especially women, rural youth, and persons with disabilities, ensuring that no one is left behind. He urged all to go forth as “Don Bosco Ambassadors of Inclusivity,” championing a culture where every young person can find a place, a voice, and a future filled with hope.

This collaborative effort highlights the collective determination of the Don Bosco network and its partners to make inclusivity not just a principle, but a lived reality across all TVET institutions in Africa.