(ANS – Nairobi) – On July 15, 2026, Don Bosco Tech Africa (DBTA) welcomed the Swiss Ambassador to Kenya, Mirko Giulietti, to its headquarters in Nairobi for a courtesy visit that reaffirmed both institutions’ shared commitment to promoting high-quality skills development, innovation, and youth employment across Africa.
In welcoming the Ambassador, Bro. John Njuguna, SDB, Deputy Director of DBTA, described the visit as a great honor for the organization. He acknowledged Switzerland’s long-standing commitment to skills development, highlighting the PropelA dual apprenticeship program—supported by Swisscontact—at the Karen campus of Don Bosco Tech Kenya. Bro. John noted that the visit represented an important opportunity to deepen collaboration with Switzerland and explore new partnerships that will further strengthen skills development initiatives for young people across the region.
In his address, Ambassador Giulietti congratulated Don Bosco Tech Africa on its ongoing commitment to providing greater opportunities for young people through high-quality vocational education and training programs. He praised the success of the dual apprenticeship program, emphasizing how it is producing highly competitive apprentices. The Ambassador also noted that discussions are already underway to extend the program to other sectors, including the hospitality industry. He expressed optimism about expanding the initiative beyond Kenya to other African countries. Finally, he highlighted the crucial role of public-private partnerships in creating sustainable opportunities for young people, noting that one of the Embassy’s main responsibilities is to strengthen ties between public institutions and the private sector.
During the visit, Don Bosco Tech Africa presented its work to empower young people through high-quality technical and vocational education and training, digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and pathways to decent employment across 35 African countries. The discussions highlighted the organization’s achievements, its flagship initiatives, and opportunities for future collaboration to promote skills development and youth employment.
Ms. Magdaline Morijoi, Counsellor for Trade and Science at the Swiss Embassy in Kenya, praised Don Bosco Tech Africa for its contribution to youth empowerment and expressed interest in identifying specific areas for future collaboration. She highlighted the Cleantech Innovation Competition, an annual initiative in Kenya co-sponsored by the Swiss Embassy in Nairobi and the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC). The competition is open to early-stage green technology ideas developed by students at universities and vocational training institutions across Kenya. Ms. Morijoi noted that the competition represents an excellent opportunity for participants to present innovative clean technology solutions that address environmental challenges while contributing to Kenya’s transition to a green economy and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Ambassador’s delegation also included representatives from KLAPP and ProScola Ed Tech Platforms, who presented their artificial intelligence-integrated e-learning platforms. The presentations sparked a discussion on how emerging digital technologies can further enhance teaching, learning, and skills development in the vocational education and training sector.
At the conclusion of the visit, the Ambassador committed to connecting Don Bosco Tech Africa with Swiss partners working in the field of skills development. This commitment is expected to open new avenues for collaboration and knowledge exchange in support of advancing technical and vocational education and training across Africa.
The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of DBTA and the Swiss Embassy to forging stronger partnerships that equip young people with the skills they need for the future. By bringing together the expertise of governments, development partners, educational institutions, and the private sector, such collaborations continue to expand opportunities for young people, strengthen vocational education and training systems, and contribute to sustainable development across Africa.