Vocational courses for sure job deals
GOING to school and being able to get a job sounds miraculous. Of course no one wishes to be unemployed. But how are you going to avoid this frustration? Some people cannot acquire any qualifications due to financial limitations.
By Florence Nakaayi
GOING to school and being able to get a job sounds miraculous. Of course no one wishes to be unemployed. But how are you going to avoid this frustration? Some people cannot acquire any qualifications due to financial limitations.
Others, however, make wrong choices. Hardly do they consider or study the job market. But those who join vocational training are not as disappointed.
Vocational institutes like Kamwokya Christian Caring Community Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) have changed lives of many youth who would be dangerous to the community.
Tonny Lee Sserwadda, 27, of Kyebando-Kisalosalo, is one of the beneficiaries of the institute. He completed his carpentry course in 2002 and is now working with colleagues at Opa wood workshop.
“My teachers gave me the best they could. I’m now an expert in carpentry,†he explains. He says out of his earnings he can save sh30,000 per month. “The good thing with this job is that you cannot sleep hungry,†Sserwadda, an orphan, confirms.
He was able to build a small room for himself and contributes towards his siblings’ school fees. He aims at working hard to have an independent workshop where he can be the manager.
“I want to be able to allow the KVTC trainees to do their internship at my workshop,†he enthuses. Kyagaba says, “To the beneficiaries who want to study other courses that are not offer here, we sponsor them, for example in the fields of hairdressing.â€
He adds: “A few others fit for university courses are also assisted.†Six years ago, KVTC registered with the Ministry of Education and Sports through the directorate of Industrial Training.
The trainees since then are examined by the government body and are awarded the Uganda Intermediate Craftsman Certificates upon completion, Kyagaba says. “It is estimated that 69% of our graduates have been able to get employment,†Kyagaba confirmed.
Cyprian Joseph Mbera, a beneficiary in Art and Design, hails the institute for giving him a future. “I dropped out of school in Senior Four due to lack of school fees.
My relative later applied for sponsorship at the institution and it was considered,†Mbera, who graduated in 2000, says. Mbera, who later got a diploma from Buganda Royal institute, is now a manager at JK Multi Signs, Kamwokya on Kira Road.
He worked with Alpha, a dairy firm, to design their works for three years before he started his business. Mbera is now looking for capital to open up a modern workshop and equip it with standard machines.
KVTC is a community-based Catholic-founded organisation, started by Kamwokya Christian Caring Community (KCCC).
KCCC was established in 1987 with the need to mitigate the psycho-social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS on the Kamwokya community, a Kampala suburb.
Since the formation of KVTC in 1992, over 2000 youth have been sponsored to acquire practical knowledge and skills. Four hundred others are sponsored in different courses which are not offered at the institution.
“KVTC serves the vulnerable, needy, marginalized, orphans and former street children,†the director, Francis Robert Kyagaba, says, adding that the majority of the beneficiaries are affected by HIV/ AIDS deaths.
The institution started from with a few sewing machines to attract young girls and women from engaging in prostitution due to redundancy.
In 1996, Kyagaba explains, an international charity, Goal Ireland, helped KVTC to expand to its current premises at Kyebando-Kisalosalo, a Kampala suburb KVTC offers training in art and design, brick-laying and concrete practice, carpentry and joinery catering, leather-works and tailoring.
Other subjects include entrepreneurship skills, spiritual and moral development and education for life seminars (life skills).
Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) programmes are also conducted. “FAL acts as an entry point to the mainstream vocational skills training,†Kyagaba says.
GOING to school and being able to get a job sounds miraculous. Of course no one wishes to be unemployed. But how are you going to avoid this frustration? Some people cannot acquire any qualifications due to financial limitations.
Others, however, make wrong choices. Hardly do they consider or study the job market. But those who join vocational training are not as disappointed.
Vocational institutes like Kamwokya Christian Caring Community Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) have changed lives of many youth who would be dangerous to the community.
Tonny Lee Sserwadda, 27, of Kyebando-Kisalosalo, is one of the beneficiaries of the institute. He completed his carpentry course in 2002 and is now working with colleagues at Opa wood workshop.
“My teachers gave me the best they could. I’m now an expert in carpentry,†he explains. He says out of his earnings he can save sh30,000 per month. “The good thing with this job is that you cannot sleep hungry,†Sserwadda, an orphan, confirms.
He was able to build a small room for himself and contributes towards his siblings’ school fees. He aims at working hard to have an independent workshop where he can be the manager.
“I want to be able to allow the KVTC trainees to do their internship at my workshop,†he enthuses. Kyagaba says, “To the beneficiaries who want to study other courses that are not offer here, we sponsor them, for example in the fields of hairdressing.â€
He adds: “A few others fit for university courses are also assisted.†Six years ago, KVTC registered with the Ministry of Education and Sports through the directorate of Industrial Training.
The trainees since then are examined by the government body and are awarded the Uganda Intermediate Craftsman Certificates upon completion, Kyagaba says. “It is estimated that 69% of our graduates have been able to get employment,†Kyagaba confirmed.
Cyprian Joseph Mbera, a beneficiary in Art and Design, hails the institute for giving him a future. “I dropped out of school in Senior Four due to lack of school fees.
My relative later applied for sponsorship at the institution and it was considered,†Mbera, who graduated in 2000, says. Mbera, who later got a diploma from Buganda Royal institute, is now a manager at JK Multi Signs, Kamwokya on Kira Road.
He worked with Alpha, a dairy firm, to design their works for three years before he started his business. Mbera is now looking for capital to open up a modern workshop and equip it with standard machines.
KVTC is a community-based Catholic-founded organisation, started by Kamwokya Christian Caring Community (KCCC).
KCCC was established in 1987 with the need to mitigate the psycho-social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS on the Kamwokya community, a Kampala suburb.
Since the formation of KVTC in 1992, over 2000 youth have been sponsored to acquire practical knowledge and skills. Four hundred others are sponsored in different courses which are not offered at the institution.
“KVTC serves the vulnerable, needy, marginalized, orphans and former street children,†the director, Francis Robert Kyagaba, says, adding that the majority of the beneficiaries are affected by HIV/ AIDS deaths.
The institution started from with a few sewing machines to attract young girls and women from engaging in prostitution due to redundancy.
In 1996, Kyagaba explains, an international charity, Goal Ireland, helped KVTC to expand to its current premises at Kyebando-Kisalosalo, a Kampala suburb KVTC offers training in art and design, brick-laying and concrete practice, carpentry and joinery catering, leather-works and tailoring.
Other subjects include entrepreneurship skills, spiritual and moral development and education for life seminars (life skills).
Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) programmes are also conducted. “FAL acts as an entry point to the mainstream vocational skills training,†Kyagaba says.