Mechanics
for Africa is a training
school for motor mechanics in Zambia, giving young Africans skills for life.
We
all know Africa is troubled. Disaster relief targets the latest victims of
nature or man. However, underneath, Africa is locked into a vicious cycle of
poverty and a lack of opportunities. For a few, the solution comes from further
education, but this is very expensive and only those who are already better off
have access to it.
Mechanics
for Africa (MFA) is helping
to reverse this downward spiral by developing the students’ practical and
personal skills. Students take a two year course, leading to the internationally recognized City & Guilds qualification.
As
part of a balanced curriculum, MFA also addresses a range of issues
including health education, computing and basic business administration.
MFA’s role extends to providing financial, technical, emotional and
spiritual support for students; and
for graduates as they enter the workplace.
MFA is working alongside students to equip them with integrity and
dignity, as well as expertise in the workplace.
MFA aims to spread knowledge not just to our students, but also to
their families by encouraging them to participate in Life Skills training.
MFA is a UK charity registered with the Charity Commissioners of England
(Number 1086333). The majority of its trustees are members of Milford Baptist
Church in Milford, Surrey. Mechanics for Africa (Zambia) is a Charitable
Trust incorporated in Zambia. MFAZ is managed by Charles and
Sharonne Watt under the supervision of the trustees and the UK parent charity.
Progress has been outstanding. The college/workshop building was erected and commissioned in the space of seven months. The first intake of sixteen students were admitted in January 2003, and they have been studying and working hard. The second intake were admitted in Jan 2004. We held our first graduation ceremony early in 2005, and have continued to grow from strength to strength ever since.
Additionally
MFAZ provides a commercial service for vehicle servicing and repair. The
students are able to gain ‘real life’ experience working alongside Charles
and Fanwell, our qualified mechanic. This
aspect of the venture is already providing funding for the charity, the ultimate aim
being that we will eventually become largely self-supporting. By providing a high
quality service we are already gaining customers even though we have spent not a
single Kwacha (currently about
Fanwell Nshimbumi in the workshop
Mechanics
for Africa aims to
be a Christian college where students are empowered by learning advanced skills
for life. This will be achieved by creating a long term self-sufficient project
that will:
·
Equip
students with the skills, knowledge and integrity necessary to succeed in a
challenging environment.
·
Design
a curriculum which combines and promotes practical knowledge with clear thinking
and life skills.
·
Provide
the opportunity for each student to develop to the best of their potential
intellectually, creatively, spiritually and morally.
·
Ensure
that the quality of teaching and training will be of a consistently high
standard through employing committed and qualified staff who share the vision of
the project.
·
Develop
a close partnership with the local community.