UNESCO & Alwaleed Philanthropies Project in Collaboration with ADEA: Promoting Arts, Culture, and Education through Vocational Training in Tanzania

On October 17, 2024, the UNESCO-Alwaleed Philanthropies "Crafting Change" project was officially launched in Tanzania. The initiative aims to promote community-based development through culturally-focused capacity building and technical and vocational training (TVET) in the country. ADEA was one of five selected grantees out of thirty-eight applicants, participated in the kickoff meeting. Executive Director, Saidi Chilumba, represented the organization and presented the project summary, titled "Enhancing Arts and Culture through Vocational Skills for Employment."

The meeting was held at UNESCO’s Dar es Salaam office, with participation from global partners via Zoom, including representatives from UNESCO Tanzania, UNESCO headquarters in Paris, Alwaleed Philanthropies, as well as local and national government leaders from the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA), the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports, grantee organizations, and media influencers.

Michel Toto, the Country Representative and Head of UNESCO’s Dar es Salaam Office, opened the meeting. He highlighted that the project is expected to bring significant changes to Tanzania’s arts, cultural, educational, and vocational skills.

Boniface Kadili, a representative from the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Sports, stressed that the project should align with Tanzanian laws by preserving and promoting the country’s cultural heritage through vocational skills. He called the initiative a milestone in leveraging arts and culture through TVET and community-based approaches.

Ke Leng, the Project Coordinator, highlighted the role of local practitioners in driving positive change within communities by imparting knowledge to beneficiaries. The project aims to contribute to sustainable development and poverty reduction through education, arts, culture, and vocational skills.

This initiative seeks to foster sustainable development through cultural collaboration among stakeholders, build stronger global networks, achieve shared goals, benefit local communities, and underscore the importance of preserving and protecting cultural heritage.