It is official, Bravo Shoes Community Support (BSCS) has introduced skilling programs to benefit all the children taken care of by the organization to shape them to compete favorably in the future.
Recently, the government rolled out the new lower secondary education curriculum in February 2020 with the aim of creating meeting the learners’ needs especially in regard to skills training and enhancement.
According to the State of Youth Report 2019 by Centre for Policy Analysis, it is indicated that the majority of the youth demanded more practical subjects and over 50% of them revealed that the education they had received had not prepared them for the available opportunities in the labor market.
BSCS Media team took a trip off Gayaza Road to Masooli, Nangabo Sub County, Wakiso District to meet and feel part of life skilling at Oaks Knit Designers, a unique vocational school and small-scale manufacturing company located 5 miles from the city center.
The school trains women, girls, and boy child to get effective empowerment in the shortest period and enrich them in employable handicraft skills and supply knitwear, and uniforms to schools, and organizations among others.
Leticia Nalwadda is a volunteer at BSCS, her humility, and love for children roots in a humble background, despite her modest educational background, Nalwadda credits skill as her low-lying gold in her life, she is able to survive and empower her siblings through skilling.
Nalwadda, currently pursuing her career at Oaks Knit Designers, acquired 3 months of training and is now multi-skilled.
“I came here with an idea only in tailoring to receive hands-on skills on a 3 months program, it took me two days to learn some of these skills. I learned knitting among other skills and I can use and operate all the machines,” she said.
In some years to come, Nalwadda sees herself as a successful entrepreneur, she commends the organization’s move to include skilling among its key programs to support vulnerable children.
Sarah Nabulime Seruwagi is the CEO and Director of Oaks Knit Designers, she recently won $20,000 from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) – NSSF Hi Innovator Women Accelerator.
Nabulime who started humbly in 2020 is a former Lab Technician at Makerere University and holds a Business Management degree. However, she took a simple decision after reading a book on how to make sweaters.
“I acquired a simple machine and in 3 months I realized that my dream belongs in the creative industry. She explained that I learned hand knitting and tailoring, and now very conversant with industrial machines,” she explained.
Nabulime has taught close to 200 women now attracting a number of clients from schools and organizations and individuals preferring customized services.
“I encourage young girls and boys to acquire these skills, this skill can easily be passed on to other children in over 10 schools and we target ages from 13 -50 years old for the period of 3 months,” she said.
She commends Leticia for high alertness and vigilance and is very optimistic of her that she will be successful with all the skills she has acquired.
“She has acquired numerous skills and she will be successful on her own,” she commented.
BSCS is also blessed to introduce Dala Skills, a skilling program under Supporting Minors to Improve Life (SMILE).
Gloria Musinguzi is the CEO of Dala Skills also joined hands with an offer to make skilling a reality with the children under the BSCS organization.
Under SMILE, the children will have training every month of December at their place in Manyangwa, she said after gifting all of them with neck warmers knitted by SMILE.
“We always have a camp in December where we give soft skills, the children have training. We realized there is a need to have skills for the next generation.
Musinguzi added that the main purpose of this program will be to create employable skills and competencies relevant to the labor market on top of educational certificates. It will embrace all Ugandans in need of skills, including but not only primary and secondary school leavers.
The government strategic Plan titled ―Skilling Uganda, denotes a paradigm shift for skills development in Uganda.
The BTVET system is expected to emerge from an educational sub-sector into a comprehensive system of skills development for employment, enhanced productivity, and growth. The main purpose will be to create employable skills and competencies relevant to the labor market instead of educational certificates. It will embrace all Ugandans in need of skills, including but not only primary and secondary school leavers.
One of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG4), by 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university, and substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship
By 2030, the UN hopes to eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and children in vulnerable situations
This is very good,I would also Love to train students in craft shows if given opportunity
You’re welcome dear
I would love to train students in craft show making and craft bags if given opportunity