The Final Stretch to Graduation at the JTTI

Sunday, May 13, 2012

It’s a very windy and wet Sunday here on Zanzibar; temperatures are slowly dropping as we finish up our long rains once again and shift into the winter season. Arguably this is the best time of the year to visit if you like cool evenings and nice warm days in the high 20’s and spotless beaches. Of course most of our readers are enjoying springtime conditions now and I do remember this being my favourite time of the year in Victoria as the rains abated and all the vegetation started to emerge from its winter siesta. Let’s face it, it’s all pretty good.

First of all, graduation day for the two year diplomas students is just over three weeks away now and as is frequently the case, all of the last minute details that need to be completed are getting compressed into smaller and smaller time slots and the pressure on the students and teachers to meet all of these requirements is increasing. It’s a very busy scene here at the JTTI however the end result for everyone involved will be such a joy and relief that the stress and strain of the past many months will be forgotten in the moment as our grads move on and new students prepare for their upcoming journey which will begin in September. I believe there were a record number of applications this year for the two year diploma program, a sure sign that the reputation of the JTTI is getting well established in our community and beyond.

We recently received a lovely note from Barbara Albers who has returned to her home in Switzerland after spending several weeks teaching at the JTTI. Barbara is another one of those very special people whose action steps speak so much louder than her words. Here’s Barbara’s entry:

Having accepted Pat’s invitation to step into the breach after a teacher had left, I arrived in Jambiani in January 2012 to teach IT and business classes at JTTI until Easter holidays. This was an easy decision, as I had met Pat the year before when I visited my brother Christian and his sponge farm project (www.marincultures.org , have a look) and already knew her as a dedicated member of his local board.

As someone who has advised Swiss NGOs, foundations and start-ups in business development, I was excited to impart some of my knowledge to students, and to get an insight in Hands Across Borders Society’s vocational training institute in Zanzibar at the grassroots level.

When I arrived, I was surprised to discover JTTI had a computer lab with about 15 laptops for all students, equipped with Microsoft Windows 2007 and 2010 and a popular typing practice software (Mavis Beacon). There was Internet access, too, though it was very much restricted by the limited data capacity (cost!) and frequent power cuts. The students’ computer skills are remarkable and so is their enthusiasm for this technology, which I think will be a decisive factor in the future to bring changes to the African continent. (If you want to support this development, sponsor a more powerful Internet connection for JTTI. It would make a real difference!)

As you know, must students at JTTI study to be employed in the tourism and hospitality industry. However, some of them plan to start their own business. That is why I chose to teach a 10-week course on how to establish a business-plan.

In my class, each student wrote his own business plan. Many of them have great business ideas (but don’t worry, I won’t divulge them – we even discussed intellectual property rights in class). Now I am curious how many, and which ones, will eventually go into business. There is Kassu, for example, who already opened his DVD-rental shop on Jambiani main street with success. I hope that more will follow his example and take a calculated risk. The time is ripe for African enterprises to explode and I met a young generation at JTTI that is educated and has language and IT skills to connect to the world.

Wouldn’t it be great if these young entrepreneurs had an opportunity to be coached by a local businessman or woman for a year or two?  I am thinking about setting up such a program and hope it can be realized in the years to come. Microfinance for such start-ups is another subject we have to think about. In most cases, just small amount of starting capital is needed to launch enterprises. However, Zanzibar has not yet a culture of microfinance grants. But most important is to teach this young generation not only the necessary skills, but to impart them with determination and self-confidence. Yes, you can!

Thank you Pat and Alastair! With JTTI you are preparing these young people for a future full of potential. It was an immense pleasure and great privilege to work with you and your professional staff.

And to the students: you are getting a great education. Get the most out of it!

Thank you so much for that input Barbara and it goes without saying, “Karibu tena, wakati wowote” from the entire HABS team and students here in the “Jam”.

All is very smooth on the clinic front with Dr Julie Pozdeev (positive) at the helm. Julie is presently half way through her third week at the Center and she has fit in to the routine with her translator Ali with no problems other than the odd surprise, which I find makes the whole experience here that much more interesting. Individuals presenting with broken bones, lacerations and brain damage is certainly not a usual part of the scope of practice of Doctors of Chiropractic in more developed parts of the world. Thank you Julie for your calm and caring energy and input.

Finally, we are still in the final “waiting and be very patient” phase of our intended building project. I frequently remind people to give up their need for speed when they come here either for a visit or to volunteer so this has been a tremendous opportunity to develop that ability. We will keep you posted.

So, on that note I will sign off here for now. Pat and I will be going on leave in early June however I expect to be able to continue with updates as time permits and I have enough new information to pass on to you all.

Trusting that you are all well and that life is awesome.