Pillars Vocational and Business School
A PACM initiative designed to help youth and adults build practical skills, confidence and income-generating capacity.
Started in 2020 during COVID with young mothers at the center.
The vocational and business school started with 12 students, many of them young mothers who needed employable skills while also caring for children. Training was initially offered free of charge, and only in 2024 did the school begin asking for modest fees to help cover operational costs.
The strategic plan describes a registered and DIT-accredited training vision rooted in employability, entrepreneurship and stronger community self-sustainability.
Create a skillful community
To build self-sustainability through practical vocational and business training.
Deliver quality vocational training
To help young people and adults gain skills, qualifications and confidence for a positive future.
Building skills, character and community
The program combines technical ability with discipline, responsibility and dignity of work.
Courses already named in the program plan.
The school is designed to serve unemployed youth, school leavers, entrepreneurs, adults changing careers and people from communities with fewer educational pathways.
Tailoring
Practical garment skills and small business potential.
Hairdressing and beauty
Marketable services for self-employment and salon work.
Computer literacy
Essential digital skills for work readiness and productivity.
Carpentry and joinery
Hands-on construction and furniture skills.
Motorcycle mechanics
Technical maintenance skills linked to local demand.
Catering and baking
Food preparation skills for employment or enterprise.
Languages
Communication skills that widen opportunity and confidence.
Driving training
Practical certification-oriented training for mobility and work.
Metal fabrication
Applied technical skills for workshop and enterprise settings.
Skills, graduation and learner confidence in action.
These images show vocational learning, recognition moments and the community around young people as they gain practical pathways forward.
Graduation moments recognize the dignity and effort behind skills training
Leaders celebrate learners who complete their vocational pathway
Supporters and leaders stand with graduates as they move forward
Community encouragement surrounds each learner's achievement
Graduates are celebrated by the people who help make training possible
Graduates process together during a public recognition ceremony
Learners step forward with pride after completing their training
Graduation creates moments of joy for learners and supporters
Graduates gather near the ceremony space as families and partners look on
The ceremony marks practical progress and new opportunity
Graduates are publicly recognized for completing their course