Former sex workers get vocational skills

A group of 20 former sex workers have graduated with vocational skills to enable them create jobs for themselves rather than engage into prostitution.

 Major Awich Pollar (left) being received at the institute

The graduation ceremony was held ta Kawempe Orphans and Women Development Skills Training centre in Kawempe division, Kampala.

During the graduation, the Director African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN), Maj. Awich Pollar, said lack of jobs, has driven the youth, especially girls to get trapped in commercial sex and other unlawful activities.

"These girls have undergone training in catering, tailoring and other supplementary courses as well as giving the life skills and building their confidence as children and youth. With these skills, some of them already have created jobs, ", he said.

He disclosed that support to the youth was based on a study conducted by Alliance of Mayors and the Municipal leaders on HIV/Aids in Africa. Kawempe division was found with the highest number of commercial sex spots, which increased the rate of HIV infection in the division and Kampala as a whole.

"The study noted that there were 2,148 female sex workers in Kampala of which 787 of them are in Kawempe division, especially in Kimombasa," he said.

He said that today, a person who has completed Senior Six hardly has any job he can do. Even those who complete university cannot get jobs due to the nature of the education system.