Philosophy
Imani Vocational Training Centre attempts to equip youth aged 14-25 with the skills they need to gain future employment and independence. Imani places a special emphasis on providing useful vocational skills to disabled and disadvantaged members of the community, with about a third of its students afflicted by a physical or mental disability and some orphaned due to HIV/AIDS.
Imani as an institution is also aiming to continually improve its own level of self-sufficiency. It is attempting to do so through the implementation of a variety of food- and income-generating activities, with the ultimate financial goal that the school be able to meet all operating costs, without external financial support. This must be done while maintaining a high quality of trades education and by continuing to provide financial support to students who are not able to cover normal tuition fees.
Complimentary goals of this project are to introduce new technologies, manufacturing techniques, and management practices to improve shop efficiency, the nutritional value of the student’s diet, safety practices, and to reduce the environmental impact of the school’s activities.
Imani students come from all corners of Tanzania, hence they serve as the conduit to carry transferred knowledge beyond the school and local community.