Vocational Skills
Through the Vocational skills program the young people get training in different practical skills that enhance their ability to venture into promising careers in a number of fields. Currently the foundation runs two vocational skills sub programs which are: – carpentry and tailoring.
Carpentry
Carpentry was the first vocational skills program at the foundation. Started in 2021 with a creative and passionate young man, a couple of tools and space in his father’s compound.
Ntege the young man started making simple products (stools, small tables and stands) which he sold to the community in Kayabwe.
Ntege’s initiative, inspired other young people who picked interested in carpentry. Unfortunately, because of the lack of tools, other youth could not take on the venture. Plus Ntege’s limited skills didn’t help his product quality and range making it hard to grow and sustain the craft.
Its for that reason that the foundation turned the compound space into a makeshift carpentry center and purchased some tools to enable Ntege make better products and to have other people join in. But this didn’t help, the tools acquired were not enough and without skills still the progress was stunted.
This year, the foundation got a partnership with a carpentry training organisation and though the organisation is willing to train the over 20 young people interested in carpentry, the carpentry makeshift center lacks the capacity and tools.
Our hope is to get resources and tools, furnish the centre to a standard capacity, good enough to train as many young people as possible. The trainings will teach the future carpenters how to make quality products, give them a sense of pride, and boost their creative and critical skills; on top of making a profitable carpentry career.
With the modern technologies, the carpentry students will also be able to produce unique and relevant wood products for local use and export. The carpentry skills can also be a stepping stone to other fields like construction, fabrication among others.
For the carpentry program to be a success we need a variety of tools and funding to facilitate the training sessions. Make this a reality for the young generation, purchase a tool/tools for the center or donate to the program. Every bit helps.