TangaYetu Phase 1: Gillsant Mlaseko’s Mission to Empower Tanga’s Youth – From Digital Dreamer to Digital Doer

By Anthony John

On the vibrant shores of Tanga, a truly transformative shift in digital empowerment began to unfold as TangaYetu proudly launched the Tanga Youth Digital Skills for Employment program in 2023. This ambitious and crucial initiative, expertly led by Swahili Digital CEO Gillsant Mlaseko, was meticulously designed to equip young people with the essential digital tools needed to confidently succeed in an increasingly technology-driven job market. Gillsant’s profound dedication to his community shines brightly through this program, which he envisioned not merely as technical training, but as a powerful vehicle for fostering deep-seated self-confidence, genuine independence, and sustainable, long-term growth among Tanga’s promising youth.

“My primary goal was unequivocally to help these students truly believe in their immense potential,” Mlaseko reflected with conviction. “I wanted them to clearly see that they could, in fact, excel remarkably in the dynamic digital economy and actively drive their own prosperous futures.”

Launching such a pioneering program, however, came with its share of critical challenges. Many students initially enrolled with significantly limited digital literacy, often far below the program’s original intended starting level. Gillsant vividly recalls, “The students I was initially presented with unfortunately lacked the necessary foundational qualifications for the course. They didn’t even seem to know what they were truly there to learn!” Rather than succumbing to discouragement, he demonstrated remarkable adaptability, swiftly restructuring the curriculum to comprehensively include fundamental digital skills, and then gradually building up to more advanced and complex topics as the students progressed.

Practical, hands-on sessions formed the robust anchor of the training, thoughtfully engaging students with relevant Tanzanian websites and accessible local digital platforms that made the course content both immediately relevant and easily digestible. Classes required diligent daily attendance, which proved to be a demanding commitment for many students who were juggling existing family responsibilities and part-time work. “Many students are self-dependent,” Gillsant shared with empathy. “Coming to class every single day was a genuine challenge for them.” However, their unwavering persistence and steadfast dedication only deepened his profound admiration for their commitment to their own growth.

Transforming Lives, One Skill at a Time

The profound impact of Gillsant’s unwavering dedication, powerfully combined with the sheer perseverance of his diligent students, became undeniably apparent as the program gracefully unfolded. “Some of my students developed a remarkably positive mindset,” he shared with immense pride. Participants began successfully securing stable jobs, confidently establishing thriving freelance work, and even courageously launching their own promising small businesses. One particularly inspiring student, Amina, who once struggled tirelessly to find consistent employment, now expertly manages social media for three bustling local businesses—a powerful attestation to how fundamental digital skills can truly transform individual lives and forge entirely new economic pathways within the community.

Gillsant measures true success not merely by quantifiable numbers alone, but by the tangible, personal growth and development he consistently observes in each of his students. They have progressively become influential local leaders, eagerly sharing their newly acquired skills within their respective communities and passionately motivating others to bravely pursue burgeoning digital opportunities. Through the inspiring actions of these empowered young people, the transformative impact of the program significantly extends far beyond the confines of the classroom.

Creating Opportunities and Building a Legacy

For Gillsant, this pioneering program represents a profound mission that extends far beyond immediate employment outcomes. “My unwavering focus was squarely on helping young people to confidently self-employ, successfully get hired, or strategically start profitable online businesses,” he affirmed with conviction. He envisions an exciting future where young Tanzanians can strategically utilize cutting-edge digital skills as an invaluable gateway to true independence and lasting empowerment, thereby creating sustainable opportunities that profoundly uplift not only their own lives but also the broader well-being of their communities.

Gillsant eloquently describes the “Tanga Youth Digital Skills for Employment” program as more than mere training; it is fundamentally about comprehensively equipping young people to confidently carve out their own unique opportunities within the rapidly evolving digital economy. “This program is about meticulously creating a solid foundation for long-term, sustainable growth in Tanga,” he shared passionately. “It’s a profound vision that is unequivocally worth pursuing, regardless of the inherent challenges we may encounter.”

The Tanga Youth Digital Skills for Employment program has undeniably made an indelible and transformative impact on Tanga’s dynamic youth, setting a new, inspiring standard for youth-led digital transformation across the entire region. Gillsant views this successful program as simply the beginning of a much larger, overarching mission—one that will continue to tirelessly empower young Tanzanians with the essential tools and confidence required to build truly self-reliant futures in this exhilarating digital age.

“This remarkable journey is only just beginning,” Mlaseko noted with a visionary gaze. Through TangaYetu’s bold vision and unwavering commitment, Gillsant Mlaseko and his pioneering students are actively forging a powerful movement of digital innovators, poised and ready to profoundly shape the future of Tanga and indeed, far beyond its immediate horizons.