Young Africa

Young Africa is an NGO whose mission it vocational education for youth in Africa. It teaches vocational skills like auto mechanics, sewing, computer skills, machine work, and agriculture. It is structured in an unusual and unique way: The project owns the buildings and shop space, but rents the space to local entrepreneurs in the various occupations, who then train the students while completing real projects. The students pay a small amount of tuition that also goes to the entrepreneur/teacher.
They also have a regular school, a (student-run) restaurant, an orphanage (for HIV orphans who learn job skills, then move out to live on their own), and a community hall for local meetings.
It was started in Zimbabwe by Raj (see the photo´s), originally from India, and his wife, Doreen, from Holland. Raj was a priest for 20 years, but he left the priesthood when they married. Together they started the project In Zimbabwe. After 7 years they transitioned the management to local hands, and moved to Mozambique to do it again, with the goal of starting one project in each of the sub-Saharan African countries. Now, after only 3 years in Mozambique, they have 1200 students enrolled in their programs. Truly inspirational.
It reminded me of the NGO I worked with in Guatemala (Common Hope) whose mission was to promote development through the education of the youth, although Young Africa seems better focused and to be having a more immediate impact. Both projects are self-propelled by youthful enthusiasm. When we visited a few days ago, you could feel the buzz of the place.

http://www.youngafrica.org/