Restoring Hope To Unemployed Youths.
RC Kololo- Kampala, RC Brighton and RC Celle in partnership with Yimba Uganda.
Youth unemployment poses a serious political, economic, and social challenge to the country and its leadership. In an effort to earn a living and survive in the city, young people are forced to engage in activities that are dangerous to themselves and to the community as a whole. These include organized crime through notorious groups such as KIFEESI which are known to operate in Kampala.
GG1988328 was designed to focus on addressing urban youth unemployment in the communities of Makindye Division, by providing young people from poor and vulnerable backgrounds with specialist vocational skills training. The project was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kololo as the host club, RC Brighton (Australia), RC Celle (Germany) and The Rotary Foundation. Yimba Uganda, a non-government organization that specializes in fashion design and music production, was the project implementation partner. Rotary Vijana-Poa provided mindset change and entrepreneurship skills training to the youths.
Key Project Objectives:
1. Empower youth in the age bracket 18 – 30 years that are out of school with entrepreneurial skills to reduce unemployment;
2. Map out and unlock market opportunities and access to business resources that youth can utilize to break the cycle of poverty;
3. Empower young people particularly girls in selected rural schools with reproductive health education to keep them safe and learning;
4. Promote musical talent of the young generation through mentorship, training and free access to musical sessions and recording studio.
The Tailoring and Fashion Design course was a comprehensive course where students learn the art of tailoring and designing a wide range of garments, homewares, accessories, bags, etc; including tailored suits, traditional wear and even some basic bridal wear. 20 youths were trained in tailoring and fashion design over a 12-month period. Each of the youths was given a free sewing machine and some start-up capital as they graduated.
The music mentorship course provided in depth training not only in learning musical instruments but also audio production and sound engineering. Students learnt to produce music tracks, record artists, professionally mix and master tracks according to international standards, as well as create ad jingles, movie soundtracks etc. Music and sound equipment were procured for use by the beneficiaries. A total of 20 youths received music mentorship training over 24 months.
Menstrual hygiene training was done in 4 rural schools in Wakiso and Jinja districts. Over 1,200 teenage girls and 60 teachers benefited in addition to receiving menstrual hygiene kits. All menstrual hygiene kits were made with specialist fabrics following the internationally renowned Days-for-Girls pattern, of making them reusable and washable. Each kit is expected to last a minimum of 3 years if used correctly.
Through the Rotary Vijana Poa mindset change and entrepreneurship skills training, the youths were mentored and encouraged to use the skills acquired and start their own business enterprises.
Project implementation started in March 2021 and ended in February 2023. The impact of the project is best seen from the success stories of the beneficiaries – stories of restored hope. Some of the tailoring students are already producing African fashion/ apparels for export to Europe, USA, etc. Music students started a band and one of them are has been invited to perform in West Africa and beyond (see attached success stories).
