‘Enrol S4, S6 vacists for vocational skills training’

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Zahara Namanda, the team lead at Africa Education and Leadership Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, has a sister, Yvonne, who has just completed Senior Six. She loves fashion, and Namanda plans to enrol her in driving school and also fly her to Nairobi, where she will visit different fashion schools.

Namanda says it is important for a parent to consider the child’s passions and needs before enrolling them in any skills programme. 

She says that when Yvonne was young, she loved crocheting. She would then spend her free time on YouTube, learning to crochet different items.

So, Namanda bought for her all the materials she needed and also got her a mentor.

“I could facilitate her to meet her mentor in Bukoto, Kampala, every Saturday,” she says.

This is not the first holiday activity for Yvonne. She has also been in several boot camps, including Ekisaakate of Buganda Kingdom, which have boosted her confidence and helped her to find her identity.

Rian Bogere, the founder of Women of Worth, a non-governmental organisation, advises busy parents to enrol their children in mentorship programmes.

Yvonne Muhairwe, a mother of two, agrees, saying she is grateful for the impact mentorships have had on her daughters’ lives. They have taken on leadership roles and have become confident.

Charity Abadhi, a mentor with Engender Girls Mentorship in Kira, Wakiso district, says that through mentorship, children learn to believe in themselves, navigate social media pressure and are guided along the career path they want to take in life.

They also learn to discern between good and bad friendships, all the while focusing on building confidence, resilience and good character.

However, Bogere warns that, “Not all camps are good. Some introduce values that conflict with the family's beliefs. This is why I select camps for my children with great care. I ask a lot of questions: What is the camp’s purpose? What values do they teach? What activities are planned?”

Samalie Batusa, another mentor, cautions parents to be careful.

“Don’t just enrol your children because your friend or relative recommended,” she says.

“First find out who the organisers are, their mission and ideologies. Are they church-based or business-oriented?” she says.