Sustainable Skills and Empowerment for the Youth

PROJECT LOCATION

JJEZA TOWN, MPIGI DISTRICT ALONG MITYANA ROAD

PROJECT INFORMATION

1.1              Overview of the project and its objectives (In half a page summarize what the project is about and provide the overall goal of the project and its specific objectives)

The project aims to reduce the unemployment rate among the youth and increasing the number of youth joining vocational schools rather than Degree course that have no ready jobs.

Objective

The Project Goals and Objectives is to reduce vulnerability and dependency among the young people by 20% in 5 Districts of Central Uganda (Kampala, Mpigi, Wakiso, Mityana and Mubende) our objectives are:

1. To mobilize and sensitize over 12,000 youth in the Districts of Central Uganda 

2. To advocate and mainstream vocational training skills with other trainings.

3. To reduce the problem of unemployment by 10% of the youth by training them in Vocational skills.

4. To provide 40% of Counseling

 Activities that have taken place:

1. Completion of the classroom block, kitchen and Toilet. See photos below

1. Registration of students in some trades like Fashion and Design (2), Hair dressing and cosmetology (7).
2. Recruitment of staff (4 instructors, wardens, cook and an Administrator)
3. Instruction in trades of Hair Dressing and Cosmetology, Fashion and Design and Computer training
4. The Computer Training department has been equipped with 6 computers
5. The Hair Dressing and Cosmetology classroom has been equipped with most of the needed items
6. The Fashion and Design Department has been equipped

 Our Impact

• Employment generation, poverty alleviation and behavioral change: 

With the establishment of the school, some youth that were unemployed benefited from the school already. We managed to provide work to many of them during the construction. Jimmy  24 years old was one of those that benefited by working at the construction site.

Jimmy said that to be employed for 3 consecutive months in casual work is something un heard of these days especially when you’re in a rural area like Jezza where you are paid all your money. Getting work at the construction site was a great opportunity for me says Jimmy. I was working as both a helper and bringing water for the builders, the funds they paid to me helped me so much to cater for my family. I was able to feed them and also pay my monthly house rent. He was also happy for setting up the school in Jezza because he says that many youths who failed to continue with education because of various reasons will get a chance to have a skill. I would like to thank you for making a great investment in Jjeza Community. God bless you so much

 Skills building

Already 8 youths have started benefiting in the skills and they are so excited that they are learning a lot. Sylvia below is busy working on a community member who came to be practiced on.

  Clayan a Fashion Design and Tailoring student

He spent a year in a different vocational school to learn tailoring but he left when they had never given them a chance to practice on a tailoring machine. At Cogswell school of Beauty, ART and Design, Clayan in just one week, has learnt to make Aprons and he is now busy making all Aprons needed at the Vocational school for Tailoring and Design and Hairdressing and Cosmetology.  If our donors did not support this school, youths like Clayan would miss out on their dreams of becoming the best Fashion Designer in their communities.  We are so grateful for this support and may God bless you so much.

Partnership with our community

One of the Cogswell school of Beauty, Art and Design value is partnership with our community. In this Employees and students of the school are encouraged to participate in neighborhood and community events. We will routinely donate resources to several community groups. This month, as it is the International women’s day, the hair dressing and cosmetology students and teachers decided to support around 8 women in the community by working on their hair without any cost. The women when they were cold upon, the could not believe it because many of them had struggled financially and could not take care of their hair. Below are some of the stories of the women that were worked on.

Robinnah a resident of Jjezza Community,

“The students came at my home asking and welcoming us for the free hair plaiting. I was very happy because it’s amazing to find that they were going to work on my hair for free. However, I feared that maybe they might charge me at the end.  It is very wonderful to find I had my hair worked on free of charge. I liked the students’ good behavior and the way they worked on me, I really appreciate. The instructors are also good because they would advise the students whenever they could go astray so I like the place for sure.  Thank you for your volunteering and I wish you well in your work.”

 Stella a resident of Jjeza A Community,

I am very happy for visiting your vocation school.  I was hoping to plait my hair next week but I had my neighbors telling me that tomorrow there will be free hair plaiting at the vocation, I was very happy and decided to come. Thank you very much for your service as I saved some money and now I look very good. I thank the student who worked on me, she was very good and she made it well. I will also tell the rest of village people who would like to come for their training, telling them on what the vocational school real does.

Future plan

• Fully equipping the Departments available such that all training materials and kits are available.
• Awareness creation of the vocational center in the Districts of Wakiso, Mpigi and Mityana.
• Introduction of other trades like baking and cookery, Capentry and Joinery  etc.
• Introduction of tailor made programs like the weekend and evening programs targeting corporate workers

Links:

• Another Hope Children's Ministries