Vocational Classes for Boys
Crafts in general
Since the start of Grasslands Secondary School, it has been our goal to offer vocational training and in January 2025 we are offering our first course: Tailoring. Besides it being our passion to offer those that are struggling a basis that they can fall back on. It was also brought on to the agenda of the Tanzanian government: offering vocational courses, besides the general secondary subjects.
Besides offering tailoring and other future courses for girls, we are looking at other courses that is more specifically for boys to start. After doing research for the best course, the school came up with two courses to start with more interest for the boys: Leather Good Production and Chalk making.
Just like the tailoring, this will help the boys in practical work, but also training into a vocational course. Not all students will have the chance to go to university or other study after their secondary schooling. A vocational training will provide them with skills so it is easier for them to start a small business on their own or get a job elsewhere.
Also these two courses will help the school in self-production, will not only lower the general costs; but can also be used for selling to other schools in the neighborhood.All of the products produced at Grassland Secondary School will be sold at the school shop. This is handled by the students, giving them experience in working in a shop, keeping up the finances and thus giving them general business experience.
Leather goods productions
Something that could be compared to tailoring, but more often done by men in Tanzania, is the production of leather goods. Items that ask different skills and could be made at the school are:
- Shoes / sandles
- Belts
- Bags and handbags
- Car seat covers
And in the future when we hope to offer more courses, we could possibly also design and sell chairs and sofa’s together with carpentry.
| Article | Amount | Tsh | Euro | Ttl Tsh | Ttl Euro |
| Serving machine | 1 | 1.850.000,-- | 740,-- | 1.850.000,-- | 740,-- |
| Shoe patterns | 10 | 10.000,-- | 4,-- | 100.000,-- | 40,-- |
| Leather (kgs) | 200 | 7.000,-- | 2,80 | 1.400.000,-- | 560,-- |
| Glue (L.) | 5 | 10.000,-- | 4,-- | 50.000,-- | 20,-- |
| Scissors | 5 | 20.000,-- | 8,-- | 100.000,-- | 40,-- |
| Total | 3.500.000,-- |
1.400,-- |
Chalk production
As schools in Tanzania still use chalkboards to write on during their lessons, chalk is one of the items that are bought in bulk, but is often found on the items to buy monthly. Being able to produce this ourselves, teaches the students another vocation, as well as the science behind this process.
| Article | Amount | Tsh | Euro | Ttl Tsh | Ttl Euro |
| Chalk making machine | 1 | 2.400.000,-- | 960,-- | 2.400.000,-- | 960,-- |
| Gypsum powder (kgs) | 100 | 3.000,-- | 1,20 | 300.000,-- | 120,-- |
| Diesel (L) | 50 | 3.000,-- | 1,20 | 150.000,-- | 60,-- |
| Acid (L) | 10 | 16.000,-- | 6,40 | 160.000,-- | 64,-- |
| Total | 3.010.000,-- |
1.204,-- |
We are still looking for sponsors for both projects, if you see something nice among them and would like to support one of the projects, or part of it, we would love to hear from you.
