“We have to wear our hair up when we practice car servicing in the workshop,” explains Anne-Marie, 17, with a serious voice. Her friend Elisabeth, 16, nods and adds, “I like the practice behind the theory – learning how to fix cars.”

Anne-Marie and Elisabeth are the only two girls enrolled in the automotive course at Don Bosco Technical Centre, in Samoa. The small island developing state (SIDS) faces high youth unemployment, and the school equips young people with technical skills that can help them find work in their communities.

Now, for the first time, students have started learning how to repair and maintain vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs). Don Bosco is one of the three vocational institutions in Samoa to establish EV training workshops, supported by a new Professional Continuing Training (PCT) programme in EV mechanics. Students will graduate with new skills in EV automative and electrical systems, preparing them to become the first generation of certified EV mechanics in Samoa.

The workshops are part of the Pacific Green Transformation Project, and its Samoan component Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport (CAP-IT), funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNDP. The project supports renewable energy initiatives in the island nations of Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu. In Samoa, this decarbonization journey is focused on the transport sector - the country’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.

By introducing electric vehicles, including solar-powered EV charging stations, the project aims to reduce dependence on costly fossil fuel imports, while also improving air quality and public health. An EV charging station was installed at the school workshop, and six teachers have already been trained in EV mechanics, ensuring that this new knowledge is embedded in the curriculum.

Breaking barriers in technical trades

As new technologies create new jobs, it is critical that they are accessible to everyone. Automotive studies generally tend to be largely male-dominated, and Samoa is no exception. But Anne-Marie and Elisabeth are breaking stereotypes, by joining the field.

The girls, both from families of mechanics, were encouraged to follow the career they desired. As the only young women in a cohort of over forty students, they say that this coursework is very much perceived as a man’s job.

“My dad is an engineer, and he’s my role model. I want to become like him and gain experience,” says Anne-Marie. Elisabeth was inspired by her older brother, who works in a local car dealership. Both girls are determined to earn their own income and support their families. “You can even fix your own car yourself” says Anne-Marie when asked about the perks of the future job.

The school’s Finance Officer, Saline M. Kasio, says that there are clear rules to prevent discrimination, bullying and harassment, so all students, regardless of gender, can focus on learning. “We want every student to feel safe and respected here,” she added.