Postcard from Tanzania - Updates on the 4-H Career Pathways Program
- Edith Njuguna
- Aug 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 9
Author: Edith Njuguna, Vice President of TDS
During my visit to the Mara region this past summer, I had a chance to see the impacts of the 4H Career Pathways (4HCP) program. Students were eager to show me their school gardens and demonstrated their entrepreneurial skills by making liquid soap, which they sell to community members. They also showcased their new computer skills on laptops they assembled through a partnership with the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology. I also spent time with teachers and head teachers, learning about their hopes and aspirations for the program.
Since 2017, Tanzania Development Support, in collaboration with Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University, has been supporting schools in the Mara region to implement a career awareness and exploration program. This program aims to enhance students' understanding of, and develop skills in, high-demand fields within Tanzania. Using the 4-H model, the program engages students through various activities, including hands-on experiences, guest speaker presentations, and guidance in developing personal plans to pursue their self-identified career paths.
A major focus of the career pathways program has been agriculture, a key industry sector in the Mara region. Students from the eight participating schools have successfully cultivated gardens that produce fresh vegetables to support their school lunch programs. Over the years, students have expanded their gardens and cultivated a wider variety of crops, including corn, onions, eggplant, and greens. This expansion has not only improved food security within the schools but also provided valuable hands-on learning opportunities for students to develop their agricultural skills. The program’s impact extends beyond the classroom. As one student noted,
“Thanks to the program, I've learned how to properly care for my plants from planting to harvesting. This knowledge is invaluable and will help my family too."
Earlier this year, students showcased fresh produce they cultivated and livestock they raised through the program at a local fair. The event, attended by the District Commissioner and various leaders from both the government and private sectors, provided a platform for students to share their knowledge about sustainable agriculture and nutrition with the broader community.
"Showing the crops we grew ourselves made me feel proud and responsible. I see how important it is to eat healthy and share this knowledge with my community," noted one student.
The Program is Making a Difference
I spent my last day with the teachers leading the 4HCP program across eight schools. They were excited to share successes, including the fact that students involved in the program are outperforming their peers on national exams, are more motivated, and have lower absenteeism rates. Program evaluation results from 2024 show that 70% of the students demonstrated academic improvement in science-related subjects, and the ability of participating students to name at least two in-demand careers in their region increased by ten percentage points from the start to the end of the school year.
During my meeting with the teachers, we discussed plans for the next school year and how to enhance the work. Teachers had great ideas, including more opportunities for inter-school exchanges to enable teachers and students to learn from each other, expanding program offerings to include more career pathways, and more intentional alumni engagement.
Through agricultural education, entrepreneurial activities, and other career awareness initiatives, the 4-H Career Pathways program is having a positive impact on the lives of young people, their families, and the broader community in the Mara region.
A big thank you to John Kuboja, the 4-H program coordinator, the teachers, head teachers and students from Etaro, Nyegina, Mkirira, and Mkono Secondary Schools, as well as Nyegina A, Nyegina B, Mkirira A, and Mkirira B Primary Schools, for their time during my visit and for making the program such a success.
How You Can Help
After hearing about the extraordinary work happening through the program, a friend pledged $1,000 to help expand it. We need to raise an additional $2,000 to purchase sewing and welding machines to offer more career pathways, pay for leased land where alumni can continue their agricultural practices to earn a living after they leave the program, and inter-school exchanges for teachers and students to enhance collaboration and information exchange. Please join us in helping students in the Mara region strengthen their skills, increase their career awareness, and advance their economic mobility by donating to the 4H Career Pathways program.