About this role
Youth Development Educator
Project Description: Vocational schools across Tanzania are seeking individuals with a passion for youth development to help young people gain the skills and confidence they need to thrive in the workforce. The Government of Tanzania is prioritizing stronger vocational and technical education to support its rapidly growing youth population. The Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) manages the national system, overseeing training centers, preparing vocational teachers, and aligning programs with labor market needs. Yet with more than 34% of citizens between the ages of 15 and 35 and youth unemployment at 12%, the demand for practical, job-ready skills outpaces what training institutions can currently provide. Tanzania has more than 80 VETA schools offering courses from one month to three years, serving students in trades ranging from carpentry to tailoring and fashion design. However, many schools lack up‑to‑date digital skills training, modern teaching resources, and consistent support for youth development. To meet labor market needs and equip young people for emerging industries, Tanzania is seeking external support to strengthen instruction and expand access to high-quality vocational training.
As a Youth Development Educator, you will help fill this gap by teaching essential business skills, computer applications, English, communication skills, and life skills. You will also organize or strengthen extracurricular clubs and camps to build confidence and teamwork outside the classroom. Using a variety of teaching methods and a centralized curriculum, you will create lesson plans that connect classroom concepts to real-world situations across a wide range of trades, helping youth gain the practical skills they need to succeed.
Required Skills: Bachelor's degree in any field.
Living Conditions: During training, Volunteers will live in a private room within a host family’s house. Volunteers will then move to an urban or peri-urban community not far from the vocational school where they will work. Housing accommodations may range from simple two‑room homes to modest walk‑up apartments. Amenities vary by site, and while some locations offer running water and electricity, access is not guaranteed. Available transportation includes taxis, bajajs (three-wheeled transport), minibuses, and buses.
Job Highlights: Gain valuable, hands-on experience in youth development in a vocational school setting that supports the job-readiness of young people. Facilitate programs and activities that enable the social and economic success of young people. Learn Swahili and immerse yourself in the beauty of Tanzanian culture while building strong community connections.
Activities: Review and modernize curricula to integrate practical, student-centered teaching methods that increase relevance and real-world applicability. Introduce creative, innovative classroom approaches that boost youth engagement and improve employment outcomes.
Coach students to build confidence and pursue ambitious career goals.
Deliver foundational business education, including money management, budgeting, marketing, and entrepreneurship for small and medium enterprise (SME) development. Teach essential digital literacy skills, including word processing, presentation development, and AI. Plan and facilitate experiential learning opportunities that allow students to apply skills in real-world or simulated environments. Facilitate English and communication skills for employability, including grammar, conversation, writing and reading skills, and speaking and listening skills. Lead life-skills sessions focused on interpersonal communication, problem-solving, career planning, creative thinking, decision-making, and leadership development. You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as supporting youth community service projects or afterschool sports and clubs.
Training: As a Youth Development Educator, you will be trained on effective approaches to youth development in a vocational school setting, creating engaging learning environments, and inspiring students in and outside the classroom. Peace Corps/Tanzania will teach you Swahili to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community. After 11 weeks of training, you will move to an urban or peri-urban community where you will collaborate with the staff at vocational school to assess the youth job-readiness and develop a work plan in line with their goals.