NGO to tackle youth unemployment

VOLUNTEER Services International Organisation, an NGO operating in northern Uganda, last week signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gulu district local government to implement a sh9b project.

By Gillian Lamunu

VOLUNTEER Services International Organisation, an NGO operating in northern Uganda, last week signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gulu district local government to implement a sh9b project.

The organisation’s country director, Gonzaga Busulwa, said the three-year project aimed at creating more employment opportunities for the youth and equipping them with skills in carpentry and tailoring, so that they can lead better lives.

“Northern Uganda is largely an agricultural area, and training youth with agricultural skills would increase their potential to earn a better living through farming,” he said.

Busulwa added that the organisation had chosen to work with Gulu and Lira district local governments and the Northern Uganda Youth Centre Labora because these institutions had a wide regional outreach for the youth.

He said about 600 youth are expected to benefit at the end of the project.
Gulu district deputy chief administrative officer Stephen Oloya said the project would supplement the central government’s efforts to promote education, health and infrastructure development.

The chairman of Kicaber Youth Group, Valentine Okumu, whose group is expected to benefit from the project, said poverty was the biggest challenge to the youth. He said it was the cause of social problems like theft, child motherhood and school dropouts.

The sh9b was a donation from Greg Dyke and his wife Sue Howes.

Sue first came to Uganda 40 years ago as a volunteer and in her own words, “kept Uganda in my heart”.