Tariro Christian Technical School in rural Mozambique seeks to transform the local community through teaching carpentry and metalwork to high standards while encouraging the students in their walk with God. The aim is that when they have completed the course, graduates will be able to work in their communities, earning a living for themselves, helping establish the local church, and passing on their skills.
Aaron Beecher, who has spent 12 years building and developing the school, explained: “As a school we seek to see students’ lives transformed through the partnership of high quality practical training and personal renewal by the gospel of Jesus Christ. We place a high emphasis on training for excellence so that graduates have the capacity to train others.”
About 70% of the graduates have obtained permanent work with local companies and many of the other graduates are working from home running small scale enterprises, where they continue to exercise a positive influence in their communities. Students are recruited from local villages and, as well as acquiring technical skills, have the opportunity to learn English, and improve their maths. They also study the Bible daily. Some of them are not Christians when they enrol, but have an opportunity to meet Jesus during the course of their studies.
Tariro also has a passion for planting trees, with a view to conserving many indigenous hardwoods that are under threat. To date over 8000 trees have been planted on their land. As a ravaged and neglected landscape gives way to vigorous healthy woodland, it is a metaphor for the spiritual and social transformation of a war-damaged country recovering from thirty years of war. Tariro is the local Shona word for hope.
- Please pray for the students. Many of them come from poor backgrounds and their families have to make huge sacrifices so that they can study instead of working full-time.
- Pray that they will learn theory and develop skills.
- Pray particularly that they will have a deep, enduring relationship with Jesus that they can pass on to others.
Tariro have made an excellent video highlighting their work. You can view it at https://vimeo.com/80480585#at=0. For more information about Tariro Christian Technical School visit
Update June 2014 – Tariro has a big job vacancy – click here to read more!
