A new video which was recently released by Beluluane Industrial Park offers a closer look at the Beluluane JOBA Internship Programme and some of its many success stories. It features young Mozambicans who have participated in the paid internship and skills training programme, funded by the UK Aid.
The programme has seen over 400 interns participate since August 2018, of which 50% have secured permanent jobs. Gloria Lopes is one of many young graduates who has entered the industrial labour market with the support of participating local companies. She’s featured in the video as a proud advocate for women in industry. “Since starting as an intern I have learned that I have the strength to do big jobs,” she says. Commenting on her dedication and passion, her manager Rendes Macário recognises the fact that his company secured a contract renewal because of her hard work.
Laurinda Macuácua is another intern who received a permanent job through this programme. Being a young female graduate with little work experience, she is overcoming significant obstacles and defying gender stereotypes. “In the beginning others confronted me saying that I am small, thin and weak but when I am in my work boots, I am a different person,” she says. “I paint, I hammer, I weld – I’ve found happiness.”
The Beluluane JOBA Internship Programme offers on-the-job training for both men and women. Its main objective is to increase the chance of employment in light of young people finding it hard to secure a job in Mozambique without previous professional experience. To address this, BIP-JOBA has partnered with 50 companies within and outside the industrial park to identify, train and recruit employees.
“Having an internship programme that works as a bridge between graduates and the labour market is the solution for employment in Mozambique,” comments BIP General Manager Onório Manuel. “This engagement with the private sector that provides on-the-job training takes young Mozambicans from learning to earning,” he says. Beluluane Industrial Park is a public-private partnership between Mozambican-Swiss investors and the Mozambican Government Agency for Investment & Export Promotion (APIEX). It is the biggest industrial park in Mozambique and offers special tax exemptions and benefits to companies operating in its free-trade zone.
Interns participate for 6 months whilst earning a salary, getting mentorship and having the opportunity to prove themselves to potential employers. They receive soft skills and health and safety training to prepare them for the work place. The initiative is offered in partnership with JOBA, a programme funded by the UK Aid focused on empowering youth and young women with skills for employment.
For more information, contact joba@beluluane.co.mz
