Vocational Education at The Old Boma Training Hotel.
The Old Boma Vocational Training Hotel is a fully functioning hotel that provides vocational training for the complete range of jobs that are found in the hospitality industry.
Approximately 40 students are trained per year, with over 80% securing future employment. Trainees are taught hospitality skills as well as English and IT. Trade Aid students also have opportunities for work placements in Mtwara and Dar as well as entry onto the Old Boma driving programme to earn their driving licence.
Trade Aid graduates have gone on to work in and manage similar establishments in larger towns and even overseas. Competition to work at The Old Boma is fierce and successful candidates are proud to wear the uniform. Trade Aid has trainees as far as Dar, Masasi, Mtwara, Mwanza, Arusha and the Selous and has even had trainees go for further training in the UK. Trade Aid maintains contact with all trainees following graduation, with many returning to speak to new students.
Trade Aid is now managed in Tanzania by former graduate Emmanuel Mwambe.
The Old Boma Vocational Project is a fully working hotel and you can support Trade Aid & The Old Boma at Mikindani by choosing to stay at our training hotel, by eating at our restaurant, visiting our spa or by going on one of our many excursions.
COMMUNITY
Trade Aid is proud to support the local community in a range of activities from providing free community English classes to helping local schools with building projects. Trade Aid provides limited grants to the community for health, conservation, and educational needs. Trade Aid also purchases most of its products locally and prides itself on using local workers and requesting all skilled workers to use trainees from the local community wherever possible. Trade Aid also conducts local environmental education programmes including litter picking and clean water projects.
CHILD EDUCATION PROJECT
Our Child Education Project continues to support young local girls with their education through a sponsorship scheme. We supply uniforms, books, stationery and other necessary items to assist them to attend primary and secondary school. In 2026 ten CEP students are attending Secondary School. Only ten years ago this would have been almost impossible in Mikindani.
The Project aims to tackle the gender inequality that still exists in Tanzania. It is about changing attitudes and altering the expectations of young women about their future. Although primary and secondary school are now both free of charge, poverty and family needs still perpetuate a system where education is not considered a priority for women who are expected to care for their husbands and children. According to Save the Children, Tanzanian girls are married off as early as 11 with 37% married before 18.
Trade Aid also teaches parents and young women the importance of education and, in partnership with our vocational education projects, demonstrates that employment, a career and even a business are all achievable goals for women in rural Tanzania and Mikindani.
To sponsor a CEP student costs only £10 a month. If you would like to know about CEP or to sponsor a young girl to go to school, please e-mail us at info@tradeaiduk.org.
