Niagara College’s Institute for Global Education & Training recently shared its expertise in Culinary Arts, Marketing, Gender Equality and Human Rights in Tanzania as part of a transformative collaboration within the Empowering Through Skills Program (ESP-05).
From August 19 to 23, Niagara College engaged with local partners in Tanzania, to deliver specialized training and foster collaborative efforts in these key areas, engaging in a series of impactful activities throughout the week.
ESP-05, funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC), is implemented by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan). This four-year initiative (2022-2026) is focused on providing alternative pathways to education, employment, and entrepreneurship for students and marginalized groups, particularly women.
In collaboration with Tanzania’s Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, NC and Seneca Polytechnic work closely with Tanzanian partners, including Folk Development Colleges (FDCs) in Bigwa and Munguri, and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) such as Justice in the Society for Transformative Change (JUST) and the Young Strong Mothers Foundation (YSMF). Together, they strive to create short-term courses that meet the needs of the local communities, enabling participants to gain skills for self-employment and employment.
Train the Trainer Culinary sessions
At Bigwa FDC, NC’s Culinary Subject Matter Expert Chef Elisabetta (Isa) Mottiar delivered Train the Trainer culinary sessions in preparation for the upcoming launch of Cookery short courses designed specifically for the local college. The training began
NC delivered Train the Trainer culinary sessions in at Bigwa FDC.
with preparing tea biscuits, chocolate cake and focaccia, followed by discussions on developing the Bakery course. Participants also practiced frosting and cake decoration techniques. They later prepared the traditional Pad Thai, and bean burgers, further enhancing the participants’ culinary skills in advance of the development of the Vegetarian/Vegan course.
“My time in Tanzania was profoundly enriching and transformative, a truly life-changing experience in the best possible way,” said Chef Isa. “From purchasing equipment to exploring the markets of Morogoro, every moment was a learning experience that helped me understand how the project could thrive. The ongoing dialogue with the Bigwa team was filled with creative ideas and a shared commitment to developing skills that would enable students to achieve success after graduation, such as starting their own baking businesses.”
Gender Equality and Human Rights sessions
NC’s Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Accessibility Samah Sabra and Manager of Global Education Projects (GEP) Quinn de Vries conducted a session on Gender Equality and Human Rights at the YSMF facilities, with representatives from JUST in attendance. The session focused on understanding the objectives and goals of both YSMF and JUST, followed by discussions on how ESP-05 can support their efforts in advocating for gender equality within their communities. To celebrate the growing partnership, the team planted trees at the YSMF location.
Sessions on Gender Equality and Human Rights were delivered at the YSMF facilities.
In addition, the gender equality team led discussions on defining gender, discrimination, and equality in the local context, aiming to identify challenges and opportunities within the partner organizations. Further conversations centred on girls’ and women’s empowerment, focusing on brainstorming activities and services that could empower them. An additional session explored the roles of boys and men in supporting gender equality, addressing current barriers and suggesting ways to involve them.
“This was a beautiful and humbling experience, an opportunity to meet and learn with and from partners in Tanzania engaged in locally defined and meaningful work related to gender and education,” said Sabra. “Their work focused on identifying forms of gender discrimination within the Tanzanian context and developing localized approaches to social change in service of gender equity. This is particularly important because we know that approaches to social change can only be successful when they are grounded in local understandings, values, and cultures.”
The visits from Dr. Alice Mumbi, Senior Technical Advisor & Country Representative for ESP-Tanzania, and Dr. Erick Mgaya, Assistant Director of FDC, on August 22, highlighted the importance of the ongoing collaboration and the progress achieved through the ESP-05 initiative.
Workshop on Marketing
The final day of the partnership week was dedicated to a Marketing workshop led by Project Manager of GEP Esteban Navarro, which brought together all partners from both FDCs and CBOs. This collaborative session covered key marketing strategies, with a particular focus on providing tools for integrating Gender Equality and Human Rights into marketing efforts .
“As part of the workshop, the partners also learned how to use various marketing tools and strategies to identify and attract new students to the short courses that the FDCs will offer as part of the ESP project,” said Navarro. “Some of the activities included developing and practicing elevator pitches in the classroom, which the partners found to be a valuable experience. Additionally, they used the tools and strategies learned to create posters that will help implement Gender and Human Rights training for students and promote the new programs in the community.”
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Through these collaborative efforts, Niagara College is taking important steps to support the advancement of sustainable education and drive positive change. This initiative also allows NC to continue supporting the SDGs, specifically SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goal).
Feminine products donation: recognition to the NC community
Niagara College’s Institute for Global Education & Training sincerely thanks everyone who contributed to the feminine hygiene products drive. Your generosity allowed the NC team to bring a number of essential items for the young girls and mothers in the communities our partners assist. Your kindness further enhances the impact and value of NC global education projects.
Niagara College’s Institute for Global Education & Training
Bringing together the expertise of a highly skilled NC team with partner organizations worldwide, Niagara College’s Institute for Global Education & Training proudly provides educational solutions designed to inspire sustainable global change. For over 20 years, NC has been collaborating with global institutions, including developing and delivering customized education and training programs and capacity building projects to support learners around the world and global partners in achieving their goals. Drawing on this expertise, NC established an official global education hub in May 2024 – to leverage its world-renowned education and training programs and to offer newly developed modularized global programs. The Institute is committed to pursuing the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
