Help develop vocational training for poor and vulnerable youth.
On this chart, you will find how our vocational training is organized. The youth work/learn five days a week and attend the "citizenship course" on Saturdays, where they improve their English and math skills, as well as learn about family planning (sexual education), stress management, hygiene, ICT, and human rights. This year, they will also learn about saving money.
The training directions are very diverse. For girls, it's mainly tailoring and hairdressing, but there is also a girl being trained as a shoemaker. For boys, there are various options in construction, carpentry, automotive and motorcycle mechanics, but there are also a few boys studying tailoring. There are also courses available at a tree nursery, the kitchen of the John Fisher Schools, and with an environmentally friendly "stove" builder. Apart from the automotive mechanic training, all the programs are one-year courses.
The intake procedure summarized:
Disadvantaged youth, with a particular focus on teenage mothers, from the aforementioned neighborhoods are recommended by community leaders and selected by a joint committee based on clear criteria. We inquire about their motivation and their parents' income situation. Their educational background is minimal (usually no more than two years of primary school or less).
These young people choose a training direction and are paired with an entrepreneur who has experience in training and a good reputation.
The parents and the community commit to supporting the youth to ensure they complete their education.
The youth, entrepreneur, and parents sign a contract that clearly outlines their responsibilities.
The guidance is provided by our coordinators. They regularly visit all the training programs, meet with the youth, entrepreneurs, parents, and the community, and are present on Saturdays.
Every lunchtime, the John Fisher Schools' kitchen provides a meal paid for by SfY. It is likely the only (good) meal they receive.
We pay the coordinators, teachers, and entrepreneurs for their training activities. The youth receive a small allowance, and at the end of the training, they receive a bonus to purchase materials for their profession. The community also receives a bonus, but it is in kind, such as trees to plant in their neighborhood, extra affordable stoves, etc.
The entire process is overseen by a local "steering committee" chaired by a professor at the University of Lira and consisting of community leaders, students, parents, entrepreneurs, and coordinators.
We now request sponsoring for our ongoing project:
Ensure a sustainable independent project that will continue to liberate from poverty young people from Lira that have no chance to improve their life otherwise.
A complete sponsor request is available. Please inquire about our project plans at info@schoolsforyouth.com
