WAJA Programs · 01 / 03
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Women in Automotive Skills & Certification
Flagship 16-month cohort training
Hands-on mechanical training that leads straight to paid work or a business of your own, built for women who have been shut out of formal training.
- Length
- 16 months, in cohorts
- For
- Women aged 18–40, orphans prioritised
- Literacy
- No formal requirement
- Certificate
- Nationally aligned, competency-based
Why it exists
Across West Africa, women, and orphans especially, face real barriers to work. Technical trades are male-dominated, literacy requirements shut women out of formal training, and financial instability passes poverty from one generation to the next.
Orphans entering adulthood often have no family network, no savings and no way into the market. This program gives them a trade, a certificate and a way in.
What you'll learn
- Vehicle systems and diagnostics
- Brakes and suspension
- Engine maintenance
- Electrical systems
- Small engine repair
- Entrepreneurship fundamentals
Reading and numeracy are taught inside the workshop, using visual tools, colour coding, picture-based safety guides and spoken checks.
How it's taught
- Demonstration
- Guided practice
- Independent practice
- Literacy-friendly, hands-on instruction
- Apprenticeships with local workshops
- Taught by U.S. Master Mechanic instructors
- Certified on 8 of 10 core competencies
Mothers of children under 16 get structured support, and their children get parallel educational help, so childcare doesn't stand in the way of finishing.
The 16-month journey
Phase 1
Month 1
Orientation & safety
Workplace conduct · Tool identification · Safety protocols · Numeracy through measurement
Phase 2
Months 2–10
Core mechanical systems
Vehicle diagnostics · Engine maintenance · Brakes and suspension · Electrical systems · Small engines: motorcycles and generators
Phase 3
Months 11–14
Apprenticeship
Shadowing on the job · Servicing real clients · Skills observation checklists
Phase 4
Months 15–16
Assessment & certification
Practical competency tests · Oral verification · Certification ceremony
Who can apply
- Women aged 18–40, with orphans prioritised
- Demonstrated financial need
- Able to commit to the full 16 months
- Physically able to take part in workshop training
- Willing to follow safety rules
- No formal literacy requirement
What you leave with
- Employment target
- 95%
- Completion goal
- 99%
- Core competencies to certify
- 8/10
Apprenticeship partners, employer links and business support mean graduates move straight into earning.
Questions, or ready to apply?
To learn more about Program One or to apply, call or email Rexford.
Apply to this program