More than 375 young Mozambicans will benefit from a new internship programme that aims to address the need for vocational training and better employment opportunities amongst the youth, especially women. Beluluane Industrial Park and the JOBA Programme have partnered to empower work-ready youth in the Maputo Province of Mozambique.

Funded by the UK Government, the internship programme will respond to the specific demand from existing companies situated in the Beluluane Industrial Park and Free-trade Zone. The programme will establish an effective link between local training providers and park tenants. It will address the growing need for a more robust labour market and better-prepared work force that is equipped to meet the demands of the developing Mozambican economy.

With its main objective to improve the employability of young Mozambicans, the internship programme will place a strong focus on empowering young women with skills for employment and self-employment. Candidates will receive work-readiness training prior to their internships to introduce work ethics, communication, basic functional English, first aid, and health and safety skills. The programme is also designed to equip trainees with soft skills in CV writing, interview skills and job search techniques.

Participants will receive on-the-job training linked to their field of study, which will increase their chances of employment upon graduation. Beluluane Industrial Park will act as an intermediary to provide a value-added service by establishing links between companies, local training providers and their graduates, thus ensuring that companies do not have to worry about the bureaucratic and legal aspects of internships and training.

Commenting on the impact of the project, Regina Diomba, wife of Maputo Province Governor Raimundo Diomba said: “The growth of our economy is dependent on the ability to offer high quality training – especially to young women. This project will make a real difference to the lives of our people. By empowering them with critical skills, the programme will improve the quality of our local workforce.”

Dr. Rosie Lugg, Team Leader from JOBA, added: “This is a great opportunity for young graduates and particularly girls and young women from local training providers in the Boane and Matola region to gain access to an international standards internship programme. It will provide a valuable bridge to full-time employment for young people. The success of this project will present a blueprint that could be implemented in other locations and on a national scale.”

Beluluane Industrial Park Managing Director, Adrian Frey also commented: “It is the first time that an internship programme has been designed from an employer perspective. Our goal is to facilitate better opportunities for employers, as it will ensure a steady source of skilled-entry-level employees, whilst uplifting our communities.”