Officials from A consortium of the NGOs Life Concern, Nebbi NGO-Forum, CEFORD and Zombo district hands over certificates and start-up kits to skilled youths at Zeu Sub-County headquarters on October 11, 2024. Photo/ Mike Rwothomio

By Mike Rwothomio

Zombo

In a bid to directly address the sky-high unemployment rate especially amongst the youths, a consortium of NGOs comprising Life Concern, Nebbi NGO-forum and CEFORD, has for the past three years been involved in recruiting, training and equipping youths with hands on skills, turning them into profitable ventures. 
 
Aside from championing the fight against unemployment, the organizations has also been involved in  bolstering academic performance, social well-being, improving on teaching capacity of teachers , promoting vocational skills under the 4.2 billion project called " Alochi Ku Somu",  funded by CO-OPERAID, a Swiss based non-governmental organization since 2022.
 
In a period spanning three years, so far, lives of hundreds of youths transparently selected from all the 15 lower local governments of Zombo district have been transformed, thanks to the project.
 
On October 11, 2024, the last batch of trained youths from Zeu Sub-county,  were passed out, upon attaining three months of intensive hands-on skills  training in tyre repairs and maintenance, tailoring and Videography at Life Concern skill training center Paidha.
 
While passing out the youths at Zeu Sub-county headquarters over the weekend, Kakura Emmy Kizito, the executive director of Life Concern, noted that the skilled youths will be equipped with start-up kits, grouped to effectively work together.
He encouraged collaboration between the youths to facilitate   the exchange of knowledge, team work, skills and techniques in all aspects.
 
Kakura cautioned the youths saying, “we shall arrest you for selling these equipments, Last year, we arrested someone and a teacher in Alangi who tried to sell the equipments".
 
He encouraged the youths to develop their hands-on skills swiftly and efficiently through practice and upgrade of their academic qualification. He also urged government, "to train the youths on how to benefit from government programs." 
 
The students were awarded with certificates, start-up kits like tyre repair and maintenance machine, Sewing machines and video Cameras, sending them directly into the job market and opportunities.
 
The glaring youth unemployment rate in Uganda was estimated at 17 percent in 2021, according to UBOS.
 
Husdon Cikawun, the Sub-County chief of Zeu urged the youths to put into use the knowledge and skills attained, advising against laziness.
 
The LC III chairperson of Zeu Sub-County Francis Pimundu, commended the organizations for the impactful initiative saying, "You have changed the lives of our community of Zeu". He also appealed for extension of more life-changing initiatives in the area.
 
Beneficiaries 
 
The hands-on skills is already bringing proceeds for some of the trained youths like Jangeyambe Jeremy, a resident of Papoga Parish, who during the pass out said, “for me I'm now earning of the knowledge attained, I thank Life Concern for changing my life" 
 
Nyingaling Brian, a beneficiary who attained skills in tailoring said “the information from Life Concern reached me when I was digging with my Mother in the village, now I'm happy for life concern for changing my life to stand on my own." 
 
Having hands-on skills, like videography, helps one start a freelancing venture with little capital and many of the trained learners, who ventured into Videography promised to capitalize on the lucrative market in Videography to prosper.
 
Zombo District has a population of 312,188 according to the 2024 UBOS statistics.  65% of youths in the district can't read and write as per the recent survey conducted by Life Concern, and according to some stakeholders, hands-on skills which are abilities acquired through active engagement and practical learning is the way to go.
 
Bruno Obomba Mananu, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner of Zombo, commended the organization for supplementing government initiatives, aimed at alleviating poverty at grassroots level.
 
He also lauded the organization for being transparent in execution of their duties, evident in their remarkable footprint in the community.
 
 
“I commend the organizations for supplementing government work, you know the government has a lot and can't undertake everything at ago, we have our industrial hub here in Atheju but the numbers we take are few," Obomba said, urging the youths to use the skills attained to be self-reliant.
 
Last week, the consortium also supported seven youth groups in Abanga, Jangokoro and Padea town council in Zombo District for their active-self-participation in economic transformation.
 
The Community development officer of Zombo Samuel Ocaki, who double as the chairman board Life Concern, urged the youths to effectively use the skills attained, cautioning them against “laziness and free things"
 
He also called for more support to the youths, urging their parents   to   avoid fueling misunderstanding amongst the youths, who will be put in groups according to the nature of their work.
 
Through their support spanning three years, 21 Schools with ailing infrastructure have been rehabilitated, bringing a glimmer of hope to the administration of these fund-stricken schools.
 
In June this year, the consortium received a big boost after their funder called the CO-OPERAID, announced extension of their support to the organization for another three years.