It is 05h30, and the first rays of sunlight are just beginning to peek through the windows of Vanessa Abisai’s modest room as she awakes to the familiar sound of her alarm.
With a quick stretch, she rises from her bed with a sense of purpose.
Today, like every other day, she is ready to take on the world, tackling whatever the workshop throws on her lap. By 07h00, Abisai is already at Spartanneli Garage CC in Ondangwa, a company which repairs vehicles and trucks, and has become her second home. This is where she does her apprenticeship as a motor-mechanic.
Fully-clad in her grease-stained overalls and steel-toe boots, she moves with the confidence of someone who knows exactly what they are doing.
She describes a day in her life as a motor-mechanic. Abisai’s day, however, does not end when the shop closes for the night.
As the sun sets and the workshop falls quiet, she quickly changes from her overalls, and heads to the Mapac Technical Training Institute on the outskirts of Oshakati.
Level 3
Here, she is studying automotive
mechatronics, and is currently pursuing Level Three.
She is eager to deepen her knowledge and hone her skills. Automotive mechatronics is a field which combines mechanics, electronics, computer science and control engineering to design and develop vehicles.
“I know that to be the best in my field, I
need both practical experience and technical understanding of the subject. I want to be more than just good at my job; I want to excel,” she enthuses.
Her hands are now rough from working with heavy machines and complicated wiring on truck engines. “There is no beauty in mechanics, my dear… When you are in the workshop, you are covered in grease, your face is breaking out, but I am not complaining,” she giggles.
While she does not mind fixing vehicles, she mostly enjoys working on trucks.
“This is a very challenging career, and being a woman in such a field is even more challenging. But I love the challenge, and there’s always something new to learn,” she told this reporter as she manned her institution’s stall at the recently-concluded Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair.
There, she demonstrated the intricacies of mechatronics to aspiring mechanics.
Abisai is passionate and determined to make a mark in a field traditionally dominated by men. As she approaches her final year of training, she is not just gearing up for graduation, but is revving up to challenge inherent stereotypes and inspire a new generation of vocational students.
Dreaming
If anything, she dared to dream from the start.
Born and raised in Oshakati, she dropped her studies at the University of Namibia (Unam), where she was pursuing a three-year diploma in accounting and auditing.
She later studied Clothing Production at Clocknet Vocational Training Centre, and this is where she developed a love for technical and vocational education and training (TVET). “Growing up, we always thought a VTC was for people who did not know what to do with their lives, or those who had failed at school. But the older I get, the more I understand that technical skills are crucial for the country’s development,” she notes. She is, however, saddened by the fact that some schools have discontinued teaching Home Economics, emphasising that it is indeed a relevant subject for pupils to tackle. Continuing with her story, she said her mother initially hoped she would pursue a more “conventional” path, but she had other plans.
“I knew I wanted to work with my hands, maybe just fixing things. It wasn’t just a hobby – it was my passion,” she adds.
Despite societal expectations and gender norms, she enrolled in the automotive mechatronics programme. “Vocational studies often carry the stigma of being meant for ‘low achievers’ or ‘for men’ only,’” she states.
“But I wanted to prove that these stereotypes are outdated, and that vocational education is a viable, respectable path for anyone with the passion and
skill,” she says.
Confronting stereotypes
Abisai’s journey has not been without its challenges. However, she has always been one who confronts the elephant in the room.
In a field dominated by men, she often found herself being the only woman, or one of the few women in the area.
“For example, at our workplace, we are only two women. In class, we are only three out of 13 students,” she says.
“There were moments when I felt out of place,” she admits.
“But I realised that if I didn’t stand my ground and show what I was capable of, nothing would change,” she observes.
Although being a woman in that field may come with challenges, she says women bring a touch of femininity and a voice of reason to the profession.
Motherhood
One notable aspect of her journey is overcoming challenges, while juggling work with motherhood.
“Oh yeah… this is my daughter. I couldn’t leave her behind because there is nobody to stay with her at home,” she says.
In-between discussing her vision, she also talks about navigating life as a young, single mother. “I just want what’s best for us,” she says as her daughter climbs onto her back.Inspired by her experiences, Abisai has now set sights on bigger things.
For her, not even the sky is the limit.
She dreams of establishing her own vocational institute, one that not only trains the next generation of skilled professionals, but also promotes gender diversity and breaks down the stigma surrounding vocational education. “I want to create a place where young people, especially girls, can learn and grow without the burden of being subjected to stereotypes,” she says.
“Just the other day, I was asking my daughter if she also wants to become a mechanic like mommy. I want to create something that values talent and passion above all else,” she adds passionately.
Abisai envisions a curriculum which combines traditional hands-on training with technology. “I research about automotive mechatronics in other countries, for example in China, and things are done completely different from us. People are taught programming, coding and other things. I want to prepare students for the future of this industry,” she continues. Her vision extends beyond the classroom. Abisai plans to partner local businesses to provide apprenticeships and real-world experience, ensuring that students graduate not just with theoretical knowledge, but with practical skills and established professional networks.
“The goal is to make vocational education not just an alternative, but a first choice for young people,” she asserts.
Presently, she and some of her classmates are working on creating a solar car,
which she says will be completed in the next few months.
Mapac
Also speaking to New Era was Alson Mapwanye, Mapac’s managing director (MD). Their institute complements the government’s efforts in training and empowering young people to take up vocational education seriously.
“Mapac has produced up to 1 250 graduates since its establishment in 2010. They are already working in the industry for big companies, including Toyota, with three-quarters of their employees having come through our institution. Some of our former students are likewise employed in the mines. The workshop manager at Kambwa Trading is our product,” Mapwanye beams. The MD urges young people to take up vocational education seriously, and become employers. “Especially those with low passing rates, don’t feel like you are left out. TVET is the future”.
Recently, the Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation Itah Kandjii-Murangi said TVET holds the tools for the future of the youth.
She stressed that the government understands the significance of obtaining and sustaining the skills and expertise needed to grow the economy.
“Creating jobs – and making sure they are the right jobs – will be how we lift our people out of poverty; how we empower thousands of women and young people; and how we develop a strong, secure and robust economy,” the minister said.
She added that the TVET sector, as an integral part of the mainstream national education system, is critical for future competitiveness.