TUI Academy Zanzibar
TUI Academy Zanzibar improves access to the hospitality and tourism sector for young Zanzibaris by offering an extensive vocational training programme. It gives students a solid foundation in the practical skills needed for a job in the sector and also develops their entrepreneurial skills.
Empowering graduates with the skills they need to find employment, it also supports them to find a job with a fair salary and good working conditions. Additionally, it strengthens links with the tourism and hospitality businesses which are local to the students.
The tourism sector is an important employer in Zanzibar and creates many job opportunities. However, youth unemployment in Zanzibar remains high at 27% and the number of Zanzibari girls working in tourism is particularly low. This is exacerbated by a lower level of education in Zanzibar and a lack of availability of vocational training. One of the big challenges for the tourism industry is to find employees on the island who have the right skills and for hotels to find well-trained staff with good English language skills.
The new phase of the TUI Academy in Zanzibar trains 80 young Zanzibari through to graduation. The programme begins with community outreach – a one-week orientation course designed for young people in rural areas with limited access to education. The course raises awareness about job opportunities in the tourism and hospitality industry and provides opportunities for them to enrol in further training.
Following a selection process, students participate in high impact English training ranging from foundation to advanced level. The nine-month vocational programme is divided into three modules, offering specialised paths in tourism, tour guiding and hospitality. Students can explore both industries and choose the path that best suits their interests. They also gain access to TUI e-Academy courses to deepen their knowledge.
After completing the theoretical training students begin their internships in a hotel or restaurant to gain real-world work experience. To support this transition, the project organises trainee mentor workshops to hotel staff fostering collaboration between host organisations and trainees.
Students and graduates also benefit from a career development club where they receive support with their CVs, job interview preparation and writing application letters. TUI Academy Zanzibar aims for 80% of its graduates to secure employment within six months after graduation.
Project partner
Kawa Foundation aims to ensure a sustainable future of Zanzibar’s heritage and the tourism and hospitality industry by taking action to protect, enhance and make use of the natural, cultural and historical heritage of Zanzibar by creating sustainable income-generating activities. Additionally, it intends to improve the economic status of and to reduce poverty and unemployment among Zanzibari young people, to empower women and to improve livelihoods in rural communities through capacity building in skills, knowledge and leadership to fill the skills gap in the tourism and hospitality industry. It encourages partnerships and entrepreneurship, and it creates economic links between the communities and the industry to improve economic resilience and to advocate the implementation of sustainable practices concerning fair working conditions
