Hi everyone!
I’m Célio Monteiro José, 24, from Mozambique. I’m a Forest Engineering graduate from Instituto Superior Politécnico de Manica, currently interning at YLabs, a global nonprofit focused on youth-led solutions in health, climate resilience, and economic empowerment. I’m also the founder of EcoHope, the first youth-led organization in Chimoio focused on landscape restoration through skill-building for youth and women.
I didn’t choose TVET, it chose me. As cliché as it sounds I never thought I would pursue a degree in a Technical School but I applied because I had spent a year after high school without studying or doing something productive, my mother did a technical course when she was young and incentivized me to apply. I got in — second-highest on the admission list — and suddenly found myself in Forestry Engineering, a field I knew little about but was eager to explore.
At first, I didn’t feel like I fit the typical “forestry” profile. But as I dug in, I discovered a love for hands-on learning: producing seedlings, identifying plant species in the mountains, understanding ecosystems and climate change. The training wasn’t always easy, and the institution lacked resources, but the experience shaped me deeply. It gave me real skills — from forest management to business development — and helped spark the ideas behind EcoHope.
Through EcoHope, I now run projects like Planting Prosperity, where we train smallholder women farmers in sustainable agroforestry to boost food security and restore their land. Another program, Green Generation, introduces children and youth to environmental education, waste management, and sustainable farming — turning agriculture into something fun, creative, and future-facing.
What I’ve learned is this: TVET doesn’t limit your dreams — it equips you to build them. Too often, people think it’s only for those without other options. A friend once told me she was “too good” for technical training. I wish more people knew how powerful and transformative it really is.
To any young person considering TVET: go for it. Even if you’re unsure, you’ll walk away with valuable skills, a new perspective, and maybe even a mission to change your community. In today’s world — especially in Africa — TVET is not a backup plan. It’s a launchpad.
What technical or vocational skills do you think are most needed in your community? How can we support more young people to follow this path?
Let’s hear your thoughts 👇
