Zombo, (UG): At least 30 graduates who are the second lot of beneficiaries of Aloci ku Somu project literally translated as “winners with education” are set to receive startup kits/machinery worth 23 million Uganda shillings to support their respective groups, DailyExpress understands.
The graduands who all hail from Zombo Town were skilled in the disciplines of tyre repairs, videography and filming, tailoring and garment cutting.
The Aloci ku somu project saw a green light in 2021 and will run through 2024 to absorb the shock and create alternative solutions for learners who dropped out of school because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated crisis.
The project seeks to skill 100 youth from three lower local government administrative units of Paidha Town Council, Zombo Town Council and Zeu Subcounty being funded by a Switzerland-based organization, CO:OPERAID and implemented by Life Concern, a locally based nongovernmental organization in Zombo District.
The Executive Director of Life Concern, Emmy Kizito Kakura told this publication that the money for the start-up kits has been processed and is ready for dispatch. “..we shall use 23 million shillings to buy startup kits to help them, I am hopeful next week we shall deliver the machines,” Kakura remarked.
Paidha Town Council had the first batch of pioneer graduates of the Aloci ku Somu hands-on skills training, in 2022 now Zombo Town Council and later Zeu subcounty in 2024.
Some of the graduands who spoke to DailyExpress echoed their appreciation to CO: OPERAID and implementing partners above all pledged to use the acquired skills to improve standards of living.
Emmanuel Okwai, a graduate of tyre repairs conveyed his optimism saying; “we had the course for three months, we shall be given machines to execute the acquired skills and am hopeful that I will eradicate poverty.”
Most of the vocationally skilled youths in Uganda on a gross scale face challenges of start-up capital and kits /equipment. It’s upon this background that the presidential initiative on skilling youths in the different zonal hubs will fall on barren soil or bare rock and Register minimal success in regards to salvaging unemployment.
The graduates were thus inspired to pursue further relevant qualifications in the line of their disciplines,
Rt. Col. Pius Alitema, the Resident District Commissioner of Zombo urged them to maintain their focus, saying; “../these certificates you have got can be realigned so that you get national certificates and you follow the line for further studies.”
Aloci ku Somu and its components are a three years(2022-24) project being funded by CO: OPERAID at a cost of 4.1 billion shillings and implemented by Life Concern, CEFORD and Nebbi NGO forum across selected subcounties and town councils in Zombo district.
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