Rotarians skill Makindye youth to become job creators
Kenneth Rubango, the outgoing president of Muyenga Tankhill Rotary Club, said the benefits of the programme were expected to extend beyond the 20 direct beneficiaries.
Margaret Kigozi, Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing at Standard Chartered Bank Uganda, speaks as Oscar Mbarebaki, Internal Operations Manager at Einstein Rising, looks on. (Courtesy)
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When Caroline Nanvuma completed a six-month skills training programme organised by Rotarians in Makindye division, Kampala, she did not just graduate with a certificate. Nanvuma acquired a new skill, which would later help her become a job creator and earn a living.
The 29-year-old local council chairperson-elect for Kyeyune Zone in Kabalagala says she once depended heavily on her parents, but she can sustain herself today.
“Now I do not need to ask anyone for help because I can make a sweater and sell it on the same day,” Nanvuma said.
Nanvuma’s story is at the centre of a renewed push by the Rotary Club of Muyenga Tankhill to use practical skills and entrepreneurship training to address unemployment and economic vulnerability among young people and women in Makindye and surrounding communities. Nanvuma completed with 20 other youth, who are also now using the same skills to earn a living.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), national youth unemployment stands at roughly 17% to 18%, but urban informal and slum areas within Makindye Division face severe underemployment, with only about 21.6% of youth engaged in formal paid employment.
Police and UBOS reports have pointed to skyrocketing crime rates, widespread substance abuse, severe mental health crises, and the rapid expansion of informal urban slums in the area to be caused by youth unemployment and lack of skills.
To fight criminality among the youth, Rotarians believe the beneficiaries of this skilling programme will acquire skills that will keep them away from crime. The beneficiaries will be trained in tailoring, garment production and entrepreneurship so as to become job creators.
The new cohort is being supported by sh25m from Standard Chartered Bank Uganda, which was formally handed over during the launch on Friday.
“This youth skilling initiative, in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank, fits especially well under our Community Economic Empowerment focus. We thank Standard Chartered Bank for supporting this important cause in our community,” Luwaga said.
Kenneth Rubango, the outgoing president of Muyenga Tankhill Rotary Club, said the benefits of the programme were expected to extend beyond the 20 direct beneficiaries.
“These 20 individuals represent 20 households that we expect to be transformed as secondary beneficiaries. The entrepreneurial training, they receive will help them start their own businesses,” Rubango said.
Oscar Mbarebaki Mugabi, the Internal Operations Manager at Einstein Rising, the training organisation, said participants without a background in tailoring would receive basic training, while those with prior experience would be introduced to modern machinery and electric tailoring.
Margaret Kigozi, the Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing at Standard Chartered Bank Uganda, said skills and entrepreneurship could help young people create economic opportunities within their communities.