YCTC
(Youth Community Training Centre)
is an independent training school under Livingstone
Diocese where free vocational
training in carpentry,
tailoring, plumbing,
catering, bricklaying,
knitting etc… is offered
to orphans or vulnerable youth coming from the poor
compounds of Livingstone.
The
YCTC was born in 1999 from the common effort of the
Livingstone Diocese (who saw a lack of support
for the youth in the community) and CeLIM,
an Italian NGOs running development projects in Zambia
(and in many other countries!) since 1960.
At the beginning training was offered in different parishes
of Livingstone but then, the increasing number of beneficiaries,
as well as of orphans in need, required the building
up of a proper training centre.
In 2000,the construction of YCTC started on
a plot donated by Livingstone Diocese, thanks to the
funds collected by CeLIM.
It’s the 2003 when the building is definitely
completed and delivered to the community under the supervision
of Sister Josephine and Giovanni
(CeLIM Volunteer).
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The
YCTC welcomes about 250 youth from 15 up to 25 years
old, coming from different backgrounds; the
only requirements include: To be in a difficult situation
at home, to have definitely dropped out of school, and
to be committed for the all duration of the course.
The
YCTC training programs are recognised
by the "Technical
Education and Vocational Entrepreneurship Authority"
(TEVETA) and lead to Trade Test examinations
under the Examination Council of Zambia.
See below the kinds of training provided:
•
2 years programs in Carpentry,
Tailoring,
and Plumbing
• 2 years program in Catering
• 6/12 months short courses in different subjects
(knitting, bricklaying,
metal work, computer)
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All
our courses include English and Math
as well as Human Development
subjects (where sensitive issues like HIV/AIDS
prevention, health, alcohol and drugs effects, interpersonal
relationships are discussed) and Business
entrepreneurship in order to offer a complete
background to all our students and facilitate their
transition to work. Students are also assisted by our
staff to get an internship in one commercial activity
of Livingstone. Statistics
show that about 80 per cent of YCTC graduates have found
a permanent job.
At YCTC, every afternoon recreational activities
are offered to youth and children. Children in particular
are supervised by qualified educators. YCTC is actually
one of the few places, if not the only one, in Livingstone
where youth can come together, socialize in a peaceful
environment, and be helped in a variety of ways, including
counseling and short skill courses. They can also consult
the books at our library.
YCTC also organizes big sport tournaments (basket, football,
netball) involving many other schools as well as events
to share views on many issues related to human development.
YCTC invites periodically relevant people from the community
such as nurses and other NGOs involved in counseling
and HIV testing.
YCTC is committed to achieve financial sustainability.
In order to cover the costs of the school and allow
the greatest number of youth in need to access free
training, some production units have been established.
At the moment there are six:
• Olga’s guest house and restaurant
• Carpentry (you can actually
buy our wood or metal furniture at Olga’s showroom)
• Tailoring (bags and other items
for children and home are exposed at Olga’s showroom)
• Chicken Run (all chickens and
eggs served at Olga’s are coming from here!)
• Metal workshop
• Hall for rental
The YCTC is already a very well established productive
reality of Livingstone, well known for the quality of
its products and its staff efficiency. This
is the story of a project that instead of giving a fish,
teaches how to fish.
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