The three-day event, with theme “Kijana: Ujuzi Wako, Fani Yako, Chaguo Lako” (Youth: Your Skills, Your Profession, Your Choice), is preceded by four days of community outreach activities, including radio and TV programs, street parades, boda-boda and Bajaj rallies, community cleanups, a blood donation drive at Iringa Regional Hospital, and a panel discussion at Iringa University on economic opportunities. These efforts support the event’s main goals: to raise awareness of in-demand skills, connect young people with professionals, and equip them with the knowledge and confidence to engage with employers and financial service providers.
The Swiss-supported fair is expected to attract many young people, connecting them with over 50 partners and stakeholders. These include employers, training institutions, government offices, NGOs, and financial institutions showcasing their services. Exhibitors will offer practical advice on a range of topics such as skills development, job search strategies, resume writing, business proposal preparation, legal requirements for starting a business, access to finance, and career counselling.
In his remarks, Mr. Holger Tausch, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of International Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland, reaffirmed the Embassy’s continued support to the Government of Tanzania. He highlighted the critical role of soft skills and job readiness in helping youth and students transition from school into the workforce. Mr. Tausch reiterated Switzerland’s commitment to supporting Tanzanians build skills through informal training programs, with a special focus on out-of-school youth and young mothers.
Hon. Estomin Kyando, District Commissioner of Kilolo, expressed his gratitude to the Embassy for funding this impactful event. He assured that his office will continue to work closely with Swisscontact and the Embassy in implementing the SET (Skills for Employment Tanzania) project during this phase and in potential future phases.
Rudolf Nuetzi, Country Director of Swisscontact and Team Leader of the SET project, highlighted the important role of the Embassy in supporting the Government to train its population - especially young people - by expanding opportunities for gainful self-employment through the SET project in Iringa and Morogoro regions. He also expressed gratitude to Local Government Authorities for their strong support and leadership throughout the project and event implementation.
The career fair forms part of the broader SET project, which has been funded by the Government of Switzerland since 2018 to strengthen youth skills and improve access to gainful (self-) employment in Tanzania. To date, Switzerland has contributed CHF 15.3 million (TZS 49 billion) to the SET initiative.
