Motheo College now Member in Three Association

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The Motheo TVET College is now officially a member of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), which is the largest and most relevant professional association for plumbers and HVAC technicians. IOPSA is a national body promoting vocational excellence, supporting TVET institutions, and upholding highest professional standards in the South African plumbing industry.

This membership strengthens the programs at Motheo TVET College, gives students access to industry-aligned training, and connects the college to a broader network of professionals and opportunities, especially in the field of plumbing.

With the IOPSA-membership, Motheo TVET College is now a member of three professional organisations for different trades. The other two are RMI (Retail Motor Industry), which represents a huge portion of the South African motor vehicle industry as well as ECASA (Electrical Contractors Association South Africa), representing the trade of electricians all over South Africa.

These memberships enable the college to be closer to the industry and thus be able to respond better and quicker to the industry’s needs and requirements in regards to vocational training and education.

District Master Craftsman in Mozambique

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In the context of the Vocational Education and Training Partnership (BBP) in Mozambique, which ends this December, district master craftsman Heinz-Bernd Lohmann visited the project partners in Maputo and Matola in October. He was accompanied by KH Managing Director Frank Tischner, who took the opportunity to outline another BBP in a different context.

The visit included the directly involved project partners from industry and TVET, such as AMER (Mozambican Association for Renewable Energy), IFPELAC (private vocational training provider – Instituto de Formação Profissional e Estudos Laborais Alberto Cassimo) and the IICM (Instituto Industrial e Comercial Da Matola), as well as several reliable partners who have proven to be particularly committed and helpful over the course of the six-year partnership, such as Auto Suiça (automotive vocational training company), Gaia EES Consulting (local consulting company for the energy industry) and Anima Estudio Criativo (communications agency).

The foundations for the next BBP in Mozambique are currently being prepared. With the help of the local long-term expert, Mr Jan Rogge, a new project outline is currently being drafted.

 

Frank Tischner shares more about his visit to Mozambique on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7390300415910903808/

“Study Trip” with Motheo TVET College

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Organised within the Vocational Education and Training Partnership (BBP) with Motheo TVET College, a group of eight representatives was invited to the Steinfurt Warendorf region in September to deepen intercultural understanding, enhance technical skills, foster personal growth, and build international professional networks.

The six bricklaying students are currently constructing the Thusanang House at Botshabelo campus and were accompanied by their bricklayer master trainer well as the Head of Department for the development of curricula.

During the first week, the students received practical training by German master trainer Sebastian Leufkens at the bricklaying workshops within the TVET training centre of KH in Rheine. In the second week, member companies and large construction sites were visited to observe modern construction methods and gain hands-on industry experience from Germany.

The students described their stay as instrumental, noting that they learned from everyone they met. They called the experience enriching and returned to South Africa highly motivated and inspired to achieve more.

 

More inspirations on Facebook:

(20+) Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DaDwsnBJG/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DaDwsnBJG/

Press Reports on Apprenticeship Partnership

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Our apprenticeship partnership with Jordan, which is part of the GIZ project PAM (Partnerships for Development-Oriented Training and Labour Migration) is currently implemented for the second year and attracted the interest of WDR.

 

Find the TV feature in ‘Lokalzeit Münsterland’ here (from timestamp 09:35):
https://www1.wdr.de/lokalzeit/fernsehen/muensterland/lokalzeit-muensterland-clip-wdr-lokalzeit-muensterland–10-07-2025-100.html

 

Find the radio report aired on the programme ‘Westblick’ on WDR5 here:
https://www1.wdr.de/mediathek/audio/wdr5/wdr5-westblick-aktuell/audio-rheine-statt-amman—fachkraefte-aus-dem-ausland-100.html

 

At the end of July, the time will come again:

the next eight Jordanians will come to the Münsterland region to begin their apprenticeship in a variety of trades and companies.

We are looking forward to it!

Empowerment Through Expertise and Craftsmanship

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Access to safe and hygienic menstrual products in South Africa is still a challenge for many girls and women, as disposable products are often expensive and also have a negative impact on the environment due to their high levels of plastic. Therefore, a 10-day product-based learning workshop was held at Motheo TVET College in February, giving students the opportunity to learn how to sew washable, reusable period products themselves in practical sessions.

‘The idea behind these workshops was not only to teach practical skills, but also to raise awareness of healthy and sustainable period products,’ explains German expert Ilona Sinner from natana, who conducted the course. ‘With washable alternatives, we are effectively countering the so-called period poverty and at the same time showing the young women and men a career perspective in the field of cost-effective, durable, and sustainable alternative products.

In addition to teaching basic entrepreneurial skills in the trade of sewing, the workshop also focussed on educating the more than 55 participants about the female body, the menstrual cycle and the advantages and disadvantages of various period products. The combination of manual work and social education enabled an open discussion without stigmatisation and taboos.

 

www.natana.de

https://www.facebook.com/p/natana-100063571081657/

Final Workshop for 2025 Apprenticeship Partnership

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When the apprenticeship period started last year, we also launched our giz apprenticeship partnership with Jordan. This year, we will once again welcome a number of new Jordanian apprentices to Münsterland to accompany them on their path to becoming journeymen and women.

Three preparatory online workshops with over 60 potential apprentices have taken place over the past few months with the aim of making their arrival and work in Germany as smooth as possible for everyone involved. The fourth and final workshop will now take place live on site in Amman with a significantly smaller number of applicants.

KH’s CEO Frank Tischner travelled to the Jordanian capital on Saturday to host the workshops for two selected groups from Sunday to Wednesday. In addition to the contracting organisation giz, representatives of the participating Craft Chambers of Upper Bavaria and Koblenz are also taking part in the workshops. These will cover all topics relating to life in Germany, the working culture, required contributions and financial as well as legal issues.

We look forward to welcoming the second group of apprentices from Jordan in summer 2025!

2024 Recap

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We started the year under the motto ‘Hands On!’ – and the motto quickly became our agenda.

We got down to work in our two Vocational Education and Training Partnerships in South Africa and Mozambique, among other projects.
In South Africa, numerous events were held to consolidate the ‘IRESA’ network, which brings together stakeholders in order to promote vocational education in the crafts sector in South Africa. The construction of the ‘Thusanang House’ was supported by a short-term bricklaying expert from Germany.

In Mozambique, a large labour and industry fair was held at our partner institute IICM, which focused on ‘The Future of Renewable Energy in Mozambique’. In April, a Mozambican delegation of representatives from our partners AMER and IICM and other stakeholders visited some of the KH member companies and educational institutions in the districts of Steinfurt and Warendorf.

We also accompanied five young Jordanians as they embarked on their apprenticeships in the Münsterland region in the context of our apprenticeship partnership with Jordan. A major highlight was the visit of the German Federal Minister of Education, Svenja Schulze to KH, during which our long-standing commitment to international vocational education and training, and above all our work in the Jordanian training partnership, was formally recognised.

 

We wish all our partners, friends and supporters happy holidays and a safe new year!

Bricklayer Specialist at Motheo TVET College

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Jonas Schliekmann, master bricklayer at KH guild member company Arning Bauunternehmung GmbH, is currently working as a short-term expert in the Vocational Education and Training Partnership (BBP) with Motheo TVET College.
Mr Schliekmann is supporting the construction of Thusanang House – an innovative undertaking focusing on the project-based learning approach. Thusanang House enables students and teachers to work and learn hands-on with a real construction project. In this way, knowledge is applied directly in practice and students can develop the skills required for a career in the skilled construction trades.
With his expertise, Mr Schliekmann is helping to promote young talent in the construction industry in South Africa and create new prospects for the skilled trades through practical training.

 

More about it:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Proudtobetvet/61563901885277/

https://www.facebook.com/people/Proudtobetvet/61563901885277/

Federal Minister Svenja Schulze Honours KH Commitment During Visit

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Last Monday, Kreishandwerkerschaft Steinfurt Warendorf welcomed Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Svenja Schulze (SPD), at its Beckum headquarters. The centerpiece of the meeting was the pilot project organised between KH, Zentralverband des Deutschen Handwerks (ZDH) and GIZ, in which four Jordanians will complete an apprenticeship in the skilled crafts sector in the Steinfurt district.

During the over two hour long visit, Svenja Schulze took the time to talk in depth with the apprentices themselves, but also with the responsible persons in the participating companies.

“Your visit is a sign of appreciation for our international commitment and for our participation in this pilot project”

  • District Master Craftsman Heinz-Bernd Lohmann

 

Read more on the website of Kreishandwerkerschaft Steinfurt Warendorf.

Jordanians Starting Apprenticeships in the District of Steinfurt

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Today marks the first day of apprenticeship for the majority of the roughly 135,000 new apprentices in the skilled crafts sector across Germany – including for four young Jordanians who have come to Germany in the context of an apprenticeship partnership between ZDH, giz and Kreishandwerkerschaft Steinfurt Warendorf. During the introductory week, the team at KH supported the four with the necessary appointments, from the citizens’ office and home furnishings to discussions with the health insurance company and the registration of electricity, internet and much more. Getting to know the local public transport system, the regional cycling culture and, of course, a tour and initial introduction to the training companies were also on the agenda. With a lot of hard work and dedication, the four apprentices from Jordan were given the best possible start. We wish Haneen, Malik, Laith and Mohammad every success on their way to the journeyman’s certificate!