MATI Vocational Training Centre
MATI Vocational Training Centre
Bangladesh`s population has a considerable proportion of young people: 45 % out of the 166 million inhabitants are under 25 years of age. Since the quantity of agricultural land is declining, other jobs are desperately needed. For low-income families, education is expensive, and vocational training places in Bangladesh hardly exist, it is essentially an informal system and people learn on the job, but often get exploited during their years of learning. MATI, therefore, places a significant emphasis on the need to promote and create vocational training opportunities for young people. Since the year 2000, MATI has continuously offered sewing courses for young women, followed by courses on computer and Office Management courses for young adults. Every year at least 60 women complete the sewing courses offered at the various stations, at least 80 young adults obtain a computer efficiency certificate.
THE MATI CARPENTRY WORKSHOP
In 2011 MATI established a carpentry training workshop at its branch in Borobilerpar/Churkei close to Mymensingh town, funded through MATI e.V. in cooperation with the German Federal Ministry for Development Cooperation (BMZ). Since 2013 the carpentry training is running financially self-sustainable, providing training facilities for at least 15 young men every year.
The carpenter trainees manufacture wooden furniture of good quality for all the MATI projects, as well as for external orders. Pedagogical toys for the MATI Daycares are a unique product line. After finishing the 6-12 months-training course, the young carpenters easily find work in the vicinity of their home villages. A few always stay on at the MATI training workshop, as in order to make sufficient income, experienced carpenters are always needed on site.
GREENSCAPE – MATI VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE AND RESORT
In 2016 MATI went a step further and established a Hotel Management School with seminary facilities at Borobilerpar, which functions as a resort and business conference facility while providing young adults with vocational training in hotel and restaurant service, housekeeping and management. The Training Centre, which was established with funding from Stiftung Brücke and the BMZ is officially registered with the government.
In 2020, the Government of Bangladesh officially recognized the vocational training courses MATI was offering and MATI thus extended its activities again in cooperation with the BMZ by adding accommodation for 20 female trainees on-site (completed in spring 2021).
Now all the vocational training possibilities offered by MATI are under the umbrella of the MATI Vocational Training Centre: Sewing, PC and Office Management, Hotel Management, Carpentry, Pre-Primary Education, Paramedics, Optician, Pharmacist.
