We are thrilled to announce a powerful new synergy between Project Four and Project Five, a collaboration that is creating waves of impact in Bundibugyo District a beautiful, yet vulnerable community nestled on the slopes of the Rwenzori mountains.
This week, the focus turned to adolescent school dropouts young girls and boys (13-19 years) who face heightened vulnerability due to limited access to education, sexual and reproductive health services, and economic opportunities.
A Journey of Empowerment
Project Four has walked a transformative journey with these adolescents, offering knowledge and support in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Through this initiative, they have learned about family planning, menstrual hygiene, and how to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies and gender-based violence. These are essential life skills that set the foundation for healthier futures.
Yet, the question remained how do we support them beyond health? How do we build their resilience through livelihood opportunities?
Skilling Meets Mindset Change
Recognizing this need, Project Five joined hands with Project Four to provide practical, hands-on entrepreneurial skills and mindset change training the perfect synergy between health and economic empowerment. The 5-day Bootcamp, launched on Monday, July 21st, 2025, is a testament to what is possible when we work together to uplift communities.
The bootcamp was officially flagged off by Dr. James Baisaba, the Bundibugyo General Hospital Superintendent, who applauded the MUST project team, led by Dr. Ngonzi Joseph, for selecting Bundibugyo as a beneficiary of this transformative initiative.
Learning the Basics of Business and Relationships
Day one kicked off with an introduction to entrepreneurship what it is, how to identify a viable business idea, and how to build a sustainable income-generating venture by solving real-world problems. Participants also had a heartfelt discussion on building healthy relationships, understanding and responding to gender-based violence (GBV), and debunking persistent myths around menstruation.
The highlight of the day was the launch of the "50K Challenge", an experiential learning activity where each group was given UGX 50,000 to ideate, source, market, and sell a product within 5 hours. Dr. Manasseh trained the groups on basic financial record-keeping, tracking expenses, revenues, and profits to give them a real taste of running a small business.
Real Lessons, Real Profits
The results were inspiring:
- One Love Team: Sold vegetables (cabbages, carrots, tomatoes) and earned UGX 20,000 profit.
- Brain Power: Made and sold Uganda’s favorite snack - chapati, earning UGX 25,000 profit.
- Brave Heads: Ventured into watermelon sales, also earning UGX 25,000 profit.
- One Blood Group: Sold eggs, making UGX 10,000 profit.
- The Brains: Focused on tomatoes, earning UGX 15,000 profit.
Beyond the profits, the challenge imparted invaluable lessons; teamwork, communication, marketing, customer care, resilience, and above all, confidence. The realization that UGX 50,000 could yield such returns in just five hours was mind-blowing for many participants who had never imagined themselves as entrepreneurs.
Skilling for Sustainable Livelihoods
Today, the bootcamp has transitioned into practical skilling sessions. Our adolescent participants have chosen paths based on their interests, including:
- Baking
- Soap Making
- Crafts and Design
These are not just skills, they are lifelines, tools of empowerment that will allow these young people to start their own businesses, earn income, and build dignified, independent lives.
We are excited to see what will come out of today’s session and the long-lasting impact it will create. From health to livelihoods, from knowledge to practical action, this synergy is proof that when we invest in young people, we shape a better tomorrow.