Innovation Village skills 200 youths in Zombo

Zombo, (UG):- Innovation Village, an entity championing creativity and empowerment through skills development at village levels with funding from MasterCard Foundation Uganda has facilitated and trained 200 youths from eleven villages of Patek Parish in Jangokoro subcounty with hands-on skills in leather shoe, liquid soap and shampoo making.

The skills development training that was conducted for three days at Afoyopayodara Village started on Tuesday, April, 16 and ended on Thursday 18th with crystal clear objectives of salvaging the negative impacts of high school dropout rates among youths and eradicating poverty through the adoption of practical skills to catapult the economically less privileged youths into the money economy and it’s associated merits.

The workshop was lobbied by the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) a pressure group led by First Son and CDF Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba through Mr Sam Rwothomio an aspiring candidate for Member of Parliament, Okoro constituency come 2026

 Speaking to a DailyExpress journalist on Thursday, Mr Lawrence Kasamba, LC 2 chairperson, Patek Parish expressed optimism about the success of the trainees in the business environment, saying; “Before the practical skills sessions the trainees were introduced to financial literacy that involved savings, enterprise selection and business administration, after the training two trainees sold 3 pairs of shoes made during the training at a total cost of 52,000shs.”

Most outstandingly, Mr Francis Cwinyai, a trainee from Kawa village pleaded with the government and other nongovernmental organizations to support the post-training activities such as startup kits, immediate operationalization of Saccos and marketing of the products.

“Don’t just leave us with the skills government and NGOs hold our hands so that we can put the skills acquired into practice in order to eradicate poverty amongst us and we develop our society,” he said.

Ms Jovian Anirwoth, a trainee from Uduk Village in Patek Parish shared how she envisages ripping from the skills acquired. “I made a very good leather shoe that was appreciated by the instructor and coordinator am hopeful that after some time from my sales of shoes, I will generate money that can help me pay school fees and improve my standard of living,” said Anirwoth during an interview.

This publication also learnt that the organisers of the skills development training at least have some pertinent post-training action plans not limited to only accreditation of the competence of the trainees.

Mr Sam Rwothomio, a key role player in the skills development training made mentions of some support by Innovation Village to best-performing trainees and recommended the trainees for admission at West Nile Region Zonal Skilling hub.

“We are going to recommend the trainees to the Presidential Skilling initiative hub so that they get certificates and further skilled for 6 months I implore all the trainees to enrol for government poverty eradication programs such as Emyooga etc,” Rwothomio remarked.

This skills development training facilitated by Innovation Village – Gulu targets skilling over 2,000 youths in Zombo District.