A Celebration of Skills and Opportunity
At the usually quiet Mwembetogwa grounds in Iringa, a wave of excitement and purpose swept through the crowd. Tents flapped in the wind, voices filled the air, and hundreds of curious eyes scanned exhibits, from robotics demos to sweet potato snacks. This was not your ordinary fair. It was the 2025 Youth Career Fair, a week-long celebration of skills, trades, and opportunity that drew over 3,000 young Tanzanians eager to shape their futures.
With the theme Kijana: Ujuzi Wako, Fani Yako, Chaguo Lako (Youth: Your Skills, Your Profession, Your Choice), the event transformed Iringa into a hub of innovation, learning, and empowerment. Officially opened by local leaders, the fair marked a powerful collaboration between various organizations focused on youth development and skills training.
Beyond the speeches and banners, it was the voices of the youth, the innovators, dreamers, and doers that stole the show. Their stories highlight the transformative power of education and practical training.
Empowering Youth Through Innovation
In a modest booth lined with snacks and juice, Adam Mwageni stood proudly behind a table stacked with goods: mandazi, samosas, and crisps. His secret ingredient? Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. “Before SET, I was unemployed,” said the young farmer from Nyololo Village. “Now I own a small processing business. I’ve learnt that employment isn’t something you wait for; you create it.”
Thanks to training from the SET project, Adam turned a humble crop into a source of income and inspiration. His products, all derived from locally grown sweet potatoes, not only provide for his family but also stand as a symbol of what practical skills can achieve.
Gloria Hashim Mhehe never imagined she’d become a business owner. “I was just helping my brother enrol at Don Bosco Training Centre when I saw a poster for SET’s tailoring course,” she recalled. “I decided to apply.” Three months later, Gloria had completed her training. Today, she runs a tailoring business in Mtwivila, designs clothes for men and women, trains other youth, and even raises chickens to diversify her income.
“I can now pay school fees for my kids and support my family. SET changed my life,” she said, beaming.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Tech Leaders
Not far from Gloria’s booth, a group of secondary school students crowded around a table of gadgets. At its centre stood Goodluck Stanley, Chief Technical Officer at Taifatek, a tech firm that trains youth in robotics, app development, and web design. “We’re here to inspire the next generation of tech leaders,” Stanley said. His company runs the Taifatek Centre at Lugalo Secondary School and credits SET with helping them expand access to hands-on training.
“The exhibition gives us direct engagement with students, parents, and educators. This is how innovation grows, through visibility and collaboration.”
Expanding Horizons Through Outreach and Collaboration
The exhibition wasn’t limited to stalls and demonstrations. The week kicked off with an energetic outreach campaign, from boda boda-led street parades and clean-up drives to a blood donation event at Iringa Regional Hospital. These activities aimed to raise awareness about skills development while nurturing a sense of social responsibility among youth.
At the University of Iringa, a lively panel discussion brought together stakeholders from tourism, finance, agriculture, and technology to explore economic opportunities in Iringa. Speakers encouraged students to pursue skills-based employment and seize the tools at their disposal.
One of the key partners in the exhibition was the Tourism Innovation Hub (TIHub), which blends creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship to boost youth involvement in Tanzania’s tourism sector. “Our programmes, like the Kilimanjaro Film Festival, Sanaa Soko, and Youth Apprenticeship Programme, are helping to reimagine tourism through youth-driven ideas,” said Jimson Sanga, TIHub’s Southern Highlands Coordinator.
Building a Future of Possibilities
The fair is more than an event; it’s part of a growing movement to align education with real-world opportunities. Swisscontact Country Director Rudolf Nuetzi called it a platform for partnership: “It brings together employers, training institutions, and financial bodies to engage directly with youth.”
The Swiss Government has invested significantly in the SET project, supporting initiatives that empower Tanzanian youth. At the opening ceremony, Ambassador Providoli affirmed the Swiss commitment: “We believe in Tanzanian youth. Now is the time to bridge education with market realities.”
Her message was echoed by local leaders who emphasized the importance of connecting youth with employers and showcasing marketable skills. As the sun set over Mwembetogwa grounds, the energy remained. Students exchanged contacts. Exhibitors packed up with satisfaction. And one young boy stood silently staring at a robotics kit, perhaps dreaming of one day building his own.
Because if this exhibition proved anything, it’s that skills open doors, and every young Tanzanian has a key.