Kagera Technical and Christian Training Centre

Introduction:

The Kagera Technical and Christian Training Centre (KTCTC) was opened in 1995. The centre is located at Murgwanza, the administrative centre of the Diocese of Kagera, Tanzania. The Centre is controlled by a Board appointed by the Bishop.

Socio-economic background of the wider community:

People in the Kagera region of Tanzania are predominantly subsistence farmers. Produce from the land rarely exceeds family needs. Necessarily, population density is low as each family requires adequate grounds for cultivation. This combination of subsistence farming and low population density creates great difficulty when planning a sustainable Christian witness in many areas of the diocese. The logistics are complex.

The means of transport is walking. Few people have access even to a bicycle. Church centres must therefore be within walking distance from homes. (A walk of 30-60 minutes is common). This low population density means that in many parishes a pastor must have many church centres. It is not unusual for a parish to have upward of 5 church centres covering distances of many kilometres between. A well developed system of lay congregational leaders needs to be in place for the continuity of pastoral ministry in each church community. Each of these lay workers needs training to adequately fulfil their leadership role in the church and to assist them in income/food generation.

Effective ministry by these lay congregational leaders is vital if the church is to provide every person within its borders an opportunity to hear of Jesus and to gather each week for worship and mutual encouragement.

Purpose of KTCTC:

The purpose of the centre is to produce congregational leaders who are able to serve the needs of a growing church and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in a predominantly subsistence farming context.

Aims of the centre:

The following aims seek to achieve the purpose of the centre – 

  • Equip students as servant leaders of their congregations

  • Enable students to be faithful preachers and teachers of the good news of Jesus

  • Empower students for effective evangelism

  • Develop the pastoral skills of students

  • Facilitate unity in ministry amongst church workers

  • Encourage students in income generation projects

All programmes at the centre are directed towards achieving one or more of these aims.

Programmes at the centre:

Education Philosophy – The majority of our students have little formal schooling. Traditionally, life skills are transferred generation to generation through observation and practical experience. The centre seeks to help our students see the practical implications of each subject taught. Application to Life issues are integral to the context sensitive environment of the centre.

Long courses – The centre has 3 courses for lay congregational leaders as follows:

Foundational course which has the following component parts:
a. Biblical introduction and worship
b. Evangelism
Duration 6 months

Leadership Development course
Duration 3 months

Teaching Skills course
Duration 2 months

1-2 weeks In-Service courses for pastors/pastors’ wives
These short courses are designed to encourage our clergy and their wives as well as ensuring a unity of ministry within the diocese.

One week long Village Seminars
Each year the centre runs these seminars for ongoing equipment of lay leaders within the parish. Our focus over recent years has been training and encouragement for Sunday school teachers.

Special Ministries
The centre is responsible for the co-ordination of theological training by extension in the diocese and is developing a programme of ongoing pastoral care for graduates of the lay congregational leader courses.

Life Skills courses – encouraging income generation and self sufficiency
· Carpentry, especially tool production, e.g. wooden carpentry planes
· Sewing skills, both handcraft and machine sewing
· Animal husbandry
· Agriculture with emphasis on market gardens and banana plantations
· Practical thinking – planning for the future
· English as a second language – ESL

Location of the centre:

The centre is suitably located at the administrative centre of the diocese. This enables the diocese to have maximum input into the ongoing training of its key lay leaders. The centre benefits from the constant input from the diocesan officers and from services at the diocesan hospital. Pastors can more easily communicate with their students as visits to the diocesan office are regular.

Staff:

The centre has a staff of 3 full time teachers,1 part-time teacher and 2 cooks. Guest lecturers help with some subjects.

Buildings:

List of buildings used by the centre –
· Kitchen and dining room
· 3 staff rooms – teachers, TEE, cooks
· Classroom and library
· Stores – kitchen utensils, food, tools, wood
· Dormitories – accommodation for 22 males
accommodation for 16 females
· 3 toilet blocks
· Staff housing – there are no permanently designated bible school houses, we share the property with the diocese

Income and Expenses:

The centre needs approximately £500 each month if services to the diocese are to continue at the present level.

As a diocesan training institution, the centre looks forward to the continued financial support of the diocese. As the resources of the diocese develop so its contribution to the sustaining of its primary training institution will also develop.

Student fees are set to encourage attendance, they are not set to cover real costs. Realistic fees would place the centre beyond those whom it attempts to serve. Even so, fee contributions are a significant contribution to maintain the centre. No student can attend without paying a fee. Currently we ask for £25 for a long course and £12 for a short course. For many of our students this is a challenge to raise.

Donor support makes up the majority contribution to the centre. The support from donors tends to be irregular. Support has been sufficient to run the centre, though pledged donor giving would place the centre on a firmer platform.

There are several ways donors can assist KTCTC:
· A one-off grant for building and infrastructure costs for centre development
· A one-off grant for general running costs
· Three year pledged grant, payable in six monthly instalments
· Student fee assistance for emerging parishes - £110 per student per course

The centre is grateful to all who seek to join with us in the task of strengthening the church of God in the Diocese of Kagera. We hope that any partnership with the centre may prove mutually beneficial. Exchanges of ideas and expertise would be welcomed as we work to glorify Christ both in the Diocese of Kagera and elsewhere.

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This paper is slightly condensed from an original script by Judith Calf, Principal KTCTC