This week (19th - 23rd), the MUST-IUC UCoBS Project 4 and 5 touched down in Mbarara City, reaching 45 adolescents a mix of school-going students and dropouts. What made this camp special was the powerful partnership with Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), an organization whose youth center already provides safe spaces for young people through sports, dance, games, and vital sexual and reproductive health services.
This synergy created the perfect platform to go beyond health education. While Project 4 addressed sexual and reproductive health, menstrual health, and healthy relationships, Project 5 stepped in to bridge a critical gap: poverty reduction through entrepreneurship and vocational skills. Together, they equipped youth with knowledge, tools, and confidence to take charge of their futures.
Ideas to Businesses: The 50K Challenge
On the very first day, the youth discovered that entrepreneurship is about solving real problems and earning from it. They learned what makes a strong business idea identifying a problem, offering a unique solution, targeting a customer, and making a profit.
Day two was the highlight: the thrilling 50K Challenge. Each of the four teams received just UGX 50,000 to start a business for a day. The results were nothing short of inspiring:
- Light Angels cooked and sold rice balls and chapatis, making UGX 15,000 profit.
- The Parrots baked rice pies, earning UGX 15,000 profit.
- Billionaires ventured into tomatoes and came out with UGX 15,000 profit.
- Ambassadors sold tomatoes and onions, walking away with UGX 7,000 profit.
Through this challenge, participants learned teamwork, cooperation, negotiation, customer care, and resilience. Many admitted that this experience showed them they could start a business with any little money they could access.
Skills for Life: Vocational Training
Day three was dedicated to hands-on vocational skills. Youth chose areas of passion, guided by trainers who not only taught but also pledged continued mentorship:
- Baking: Chapati, bagiya, and doughnuts under the guidance of Mr. Baguma Innocent.
- Liquid Soap Making: Trained by Catherine Nsaba, who promised ongoing production and marketing support.
- Bar Soap Making: Led by Kyasimire Hamidah, who pledged to walk with the team until they stabilize.
- Crafts: Wall hangings and door mats, mentored by Turyatunga Racheal, who will continue supporting production.
A Community’s Endorsement
The training closed with a moving address from Mr. Asiimwe Dixon, the City Commercial Officer, who commended the project leaders Dr. Joseph Ngonzi and Dr. Manasseh Tumuhimbise for investing in youth transformation. He encouraged participants to nurture their new businesses with teamwork, innovation, and creativity, while also warning them against alcohol abuse, which robs many young Ugandans of their future. He pledged his office’s support for any teams that push forward with their enterprises.
Impact Beyond the Training
For students, this training came at the right time, aligning perfectly with Uganda’s new curriculum, which requires learners to complete practical projects. For out-of-school adolescents, the opportunity to continue production at RHU’s Youth Center ensures they remain engaged, supported, and hopeful. In both cases, these young people left empowered to create livelihoods, reduce poverty, and avoid the vulnerabilities that come with unemployment.
This life-changing program was made possible by the visionary leadership of Prof. Charles Tushabomwe Kazooba (PI), Dr. Ngonzi, Dr. Tumuhimbise Manasseh, and the unwavering support of our Flemish partners (VLIR-UOS), who continue to believe in the power of investing in communities often overlooked.
Behind every skill taught and every business started is a story of transformation of youth choosing possibility over poverty, and of a community choosing to believe in its next generation.