Work experience

Trainees on our Ubuyantashi project are gaining hands on experience through work placements with previous project graduates.

Our 20 Tailoring and 10 Catering trainees are gaining customer care and commercial experience through work placements.  The placements also provide previous project trainees an opportunity to meet new talented graduates and share peer-to-peer learning and advice.

Our Zambia Programme Officer (Lute) recently visited four Tailoring trainees completing a placement with Chrisine Choleba, a previous graduate turned business owner.   Lute observed the Tailoring trainees carefully making products for sale under Christine’s supervision.  Some were busy sewing while others were finishing garments with the iron, demonstrating a coordinated effort in applying classroom knowledge to real-life production.

Lute explained, “the attachment experience is not only strengthening tailoring competencies among the trainees but also exposing them to entrepreneurial thinking and business management through observing Christine’s diversified enterprise. By interacting with a businesswoman who has built income streams beyond tailoring alone, trainees are learning the importance of adaptability and innovation in sustaining livelihoods.”

Catering & Hospitality trainees have also been placed with local businesses to gain practical work experience.  Four are on a placement with Grace Mushongo, who graduated from our project in 2019.  Grace graduating in tailoring and started her own business.  She is still tailoring, but has added cake baking and décor services to her business offering.  The trainees expressed excitement about learning under Grace because of her diverse skill set. Beyond ordinary baking, they are now also learning wedding cake preparation, advanced cake decoration, and event décor, skills they described as highly marketable and income-generating.

Meanwhile, a second group of Catering & Hospitality trainees are attending a local lodge where they are honing their skills in housekeeping, managing reception and running the bar and kitchen areas.  Speaking to Lute, one trainee said, “We are sure we will know and learn a lot of things. We will even learn décor as they have a hall for conferences & events, we will learn how to properly perfect breakfast servings such as English breakfast or Italian, anyway by the time the attachments are over, we are sure our cooking, baking & housekeeping skills will be at a higher level. This is really a good opportunity for us.”

In the final stage of our project, trainees will complete community engagement activities and sit their final assessments to gain a nationally recognised trade qualification.  We wish them the best of luck for the rest of the project and beyond!