Alternative Education and Livelihoods
We empower young people, parents and guardians with the education, skills and resources needed to take up productive livelihoods and employment opportunities within their own communities.
A large proportion of the slum’s community is illiterate and lacks professional skills. Most jobs available are in the informal sector which means casual or unreliable work, no job security and low pay.
Youth unemployment is also a big issue in Uganda with the unemployment rate for young people ages 15–24 at 43%.
To try and address this, we have launched several programmes designed to give skills to the young people and caregivers of children on our programme. With caregivers we are primarily working with women as many of our families are female-headed households and women are more likely to spend their income on the basic needs of their family.
What we do
Provide
We provide a safe place for older children who are not part of our sponsorship programme to learn and gain skills.
Educate
We provide vocational training opportunities to young people with an emphasis on skills development.
Facilitate
We facilitate opportunities to improve the income and financial independence of young people and adults in the community.
Support
We provide support and advice to our caregivers to allow them to either start up a small business or improve an existing one.
Vocational Training
Some of the older children we support, identified through our sponsorship programme or the Outreach Centre in the slum, are supported to vocational training where they learn a specific skill and are prepared to work a specific trade or occupation.
Recently we have had young people attending courses in hairdressing, mechanics and catering.
Small Loans Programme
Due to high unemployment rates, social norms and low education levels the employment opportunities for women are limited. We provide support and advice to women to allow them to either start up a small business or improve an existing one.
Most of these women lack collateral, steady employment and credit history, so they do not qualify for access to banking or traditional loans.
Through increased income, those who take a loan are able to better provide for their families.
Skills Training for Mothers
To support mothers who have few skills with which to earn an income, UHfH offers various opportunities to come up to the school and learn practical crafts. Often these can be turned into income streams, such as tailoring and broom making.
