Toolkit iSkills: Skilling Youth for Employment Opportunities in Africa

On 19^th April 2023, The Toolkit iSkills (TTI) Limited officially launched its advanced technology training in welding. The Toolkit Innovation Hub is one of a kind and uses the latest technology to offer skills to young people. Young people are trained for two months in Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding through virtual reality before a one-month training in the physical workshop. Virtual reality welding offers 80% of the skills while physical welding offers 20%. Virtual reality training has reduced training costs, eliminated safety hazards, and reduced the time taken to train as a welder. The organization has rolled out this training in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. 400 young people have benefited from this virtual reality MIG welding training since 2016 and the organization targets to train 1000 young people this year.

The event was graced by various dignitaries including the German Ambassador to Kenya – Mr. Sebastian Groth, Mr. Timothy Were – the Deputy Director at the State Department of ICT and Innovation,  Ms. Jane Mwangi – the Director State Department of Housing, representatives from the French Embassy, Polish Embassy, Norwegian Embassy, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), religious leaders, Swisscontact, Kenya National Qualifications Authority, different private companies and public corporations and local area administration. Don Bosco Tech Africa was represented by the deputy director, Br. John Njuguna.

Ms. Jane Muigai Kamphuis, the director and founder of Toolkit iSkills, expressed in her speech that they look forward to extending this technology to TVET institutions including the Don Bosco TVET centres in Africa. She underscored that in order to offer quality training to young people Toolkit has invested in the development of its instructors through training of trainers. Accordingly, through this, they produce outstanding and competent graduates ready for the labour market both locally and internationally.  “We will raise the flag and Africa will stand on the shoulders of its youth,” concluded Ms. Jane.

On his part the German Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Sebastian Groth, said Germany has a deficit of skilled labour in welding and renewable energy hence the Toolkit training is a great opportunity to export labour to Germany. He congratulated the Toolkit fraternity and accentuated that the German government will continue with its support to develop skills in Kenya and Africa as a whole. The German government is developing an immigration policy that will enhance labour mobility.

Don Bosco Tech Africa would like to see the Don Bosco TVET centres advance to this level of technology and that’s why it is working closely with Toolkit iSkills in order to roll out these digital skills to the Don Bosco TVET centres. Embracing digital skills and collaborating with like-minded partners will help change the landscape and trajectory of young people in Africa.