Thanks to a partnership between Sasol, Mozambique Institute of Vocational Training and the Labour Studies Alberto Cassimo (IFPELAC), last week, twenty artisan learners graduated as professional welders from the Inhassoro Training Center in Inhambane province.
The Inhassoro Training Centre, which has been in operation since 2014 and now offers training to young people in a variety of trades, including welding, scaffolding, steel fixing and painting.
To date, over 320 artisans have been trained with a total of 460 expected to be trained within the coming years.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Ovidio Rodolfo, Managing Director for Sasol in Mozambique said: “As Sasol, we invest in targeted education, skills development and capacity building of Mozambicans. We wish to play our part in reducing unemployment, promoting the development of local skills in response to the market needs of the oil and gas sector, and developing a much-needed pool of skilled Mozambicans.
“We believe that learnerships programmes are a critical platform to enable the youth of Mozambique. In partnership with Mozambique Institute of Vocational Training and Labour Studies Alberto Cassimo (IFPELAC), we have established the training centre in Inhassoro where we are today.”
Rodolfo said: “Artisan skills set are much sought after within the sector and we believe that through the practical experience obtained through working at our Central Processing Facility in Temane the young people will have unique expertise they wouldn’t have gained in other centres.”
He also shared that he was most impressed by the high number of women that have attended the centre over the years saying that he understands that it has been an average of about 30% women over the various intakes. He said that from the 20 artisan learner graduate welders, seven were young women who serve as an inspiration to others in this traditionally male industry.
These graduates come from Govuro, Inhassoro, Massinga, Mabote and Vilanculos districts within Province of Inhambane. The centre offers Mozambicans a chance for socio-economic upliftment and is creating a talent pipeline for the country’s industrial growth.
