Severin Craftsman Training Center

Reto Casanova had difficulties to find qualified craftsmen for their maintenance departments and came up with the idea to train young people as per the German model. Our apprenticeships go over 3 years. The first year concentrates on basics, in the second and third year the trainees gain experience and advance their knowledge. The apprentices do productive work in the maintenance departments of the two companies and work alongside qualified trainers in construction and repairs. We have a team of 12 teachers who have carried out the training of trainers based on the qualification of Trainers according to the German Trainer Aptitude Ordinance (AEVO) on pedagogy and didactics. At the moment (2022) we have about 30 trainees in year 1 and 30 trainees in year 2. There are no course fees like in other institutions. The first year comes at no cost for the trainees, they get a uniform and even have a free lunch in our canteen, while in year 2 and 3 the trainees earn an apprentice salary of about half the salary of a certified craftsman. Severin Craftsman Training Center is licensed by TVET (Technical and Vocational Training, Kenya) and beside having our own curriculum and issuing our own certificates; all our trainees go through the three NITA (National Industrial Training Authority) exams from Grade III to Grade I and get the respective Kenyan certificates. All trainees are recruited from the neighboring agglomerations. They are between 19 and 26 years old, finished their secondary school, but with below average results. We include the local village chiefs in our recruitment and target youth from humble background. For the 2022 intake we had 350 online applications for our 30 slots. Being incorporated into the operations of the Severin hotel and Mombasa Go-Kart we never lack of practical projects in renovations and extension and we offer access to professional tools and machinery. Our training center is in a dedicated 3 storey building with enough space for 100 trainees. In future, past 2023, we will have in total 90 trainees and every year we release 30 well trained craftsman to the job market. Here at the Kenyan coast, such craftsmen are in high demand and it will be easy for them to find jobs or go into self employment.