Over 500 students have received certificates following a 3 months training in vocational skills. The training was conducted by the Department of Adult and Continuing Education at Makerere University’s College of Education and External studies with support from Love Binti International.
The Adult Education Graduates were tipped on honesty in the employment and job creation market, lest they risk losing credibility.
This was during their graduation, on December 21, 2023, in vocational training at Makerere University, that saw over 500 students graduate with different vocational skills including tailoring, designing, among others. The training is supported by Love Binti International in partnership with Makerere University.
The Founder/Executive Director for Love Binti International, Ms. Elle Yang, who was represented by the Board Member, Pastor Martin Ocheng, applauded the graduates for their commitment to obtaining practical skills and thanked the Management of Makerere University led by Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) led by Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga for the continued support to the Love Binti Community Empowerment programme. Ms. Yang also recognized the invaluable contributions of all stakeholders in making the program a resounding success. With profound gratitude, she pledged to persist in her efforts to secure funds, ensuring the program’s expansion to reach a broader demographic. This commitment reportedly underscored Love Binti International’s unwavering dedication to empowering communities through education and skills development
Dr. Stella Achen, The Department head who was represented by Philemon Kirunda called upon the graduates to emphasise honesty in their work.
“You have done us proud, but we urge you to be honest with the time that you can deliver; be honest with profits and what you can and cannot do,” she said.
Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira, the Makerere University Assistant Bursar commended the Skilling program as the way to curb unemployment in Uganda’s job market.
“This initiative is what the country needs because as you have seen, we have people graduating from here with degrees and you ask them what they can do and there is none,” he said.
“This training gives them high hope because they leave here knowing what their skills and abilities are.” he added.
Gyaviira emphasized the importance of honesty in delivering services and managing profits. He also highlighted the significance of the Skilling program in addressing the issue of unemployment in Uganda. According to him, many graduates lack practical skills and this training provides them with a clear understanding of their abilities and potential career paths.
Dr. David Kabugo, the Deputy Director MITER, who was the Chief Guest lauded the training program where many women trainees were equipped with a range of skills to create their own jobs.
“The idea is not to just give learners degrees in theory alone. Our children are creative when they are still young but in secondary school, they lose direction. That is why we want to vocationalize higher education,” he said.
Dr. Kabugo emphasized the importance of equipping learners with practical skills, as many graduates often struggle to find employment due to a lack of hands-on experience. He highlighted the need for vocationalizing higher education to nurture and harness the creativity of students, ensuring they have clear career paths and the ability to create their own jobs.
The Skilling program was under the Love Binti Initiative under Makerere University Department of Adult and Community Development.
Love Binti program was founded in Kenya and introduced in Uganda in 2018, to empower women and girls in vocational skills.
The Love Binti program aims to address the issue of young people losing direction in secondary school by providing them with practical vocational skills. By equipping learners with a range of skills, they are empowered to create their own jobs and pursue entrepreneurial opportunities. This not only helps to foster creativity but also contributes to the overall development and empowerment of women and girls in Uganda.
