UGANDA: Sisters Led Youth Initiative Program to Benefit Dioceses in Gulu Ecclesiastical Province

Isaac Ojok

Although shattered by the Covid-19 partial lock down in the country, children who are the victims of domestic violence in Lango sub-region in Northern Uganda still have the confidence to regain their lost opportunities in order for them to have a bright future through vocational training.

Selected children mostly from the rural areas of Lango sub-region had to bear the consequences of domestic violence and poverty perpetrated by excessive consumption of alcohol and the Lord’s Resistance Army rebel insurgency in Northern Uganda. Now they are ready to embrace yet another opportunity being initiated by the Sisters Led Youth Initiative program under the guidance of the Association of the Religious in Uganda (ARU).

They observed that poverty and domestic violence penetrated their families and led their parents to divorce, making them become the victims of circumstance of family instability hence dropping out of school. Even in the families, they could not be provided some basic needs.

Many dropped out and could not continue with primary school education. Thus, they are grateful to ARU for coming up with the program to rehabilitate their lives through skills they are set to acquire.

They have expressed readiness while noting that they are optimistic to have the admirable future when they complete their vocational training being offered in tailoring, Saloon hair dressing, motor vehicle technology and hotel management.

Through the opportunity being offered, other beneficiaries have opted to embrace agri- business programs like poultry keeping and piggery in a bid to earn income and be self-reliant and supportive in their families.

While meeting Rev. Sr. Clare Migisha the Coordinator of Sister Led Initiative the program in Lira Diocese appealed for more material, spiritual and moral support for the children in Aloi denary so that they may complete their course successfully.

Sr. Clare Migisha disclosed that the program is targeting vulnerable young people in Lira Diocese with the intention to empower them economically and to restore hope and confidence in their lives.

To her, the initiative is as well intended to enable the vulnerable young people who have not had access to continue with their education now in vocational training due to some reasons and factors that debilitated their parents from supporting them in schools.

Sr Clare noted that the program is also looking at how the vulnerable young people especially orphans can be inspired to live productive life in their localities through practical skills.

She went on to say that the beneficiaries are going to be trained with practical skills in agri-business, livestock production, while others shall be enrolled to get skills in tailoring, Hair dressing, and training on motor vehicle repairs among others.

After the training, the beneficiaries shall be given the startup capital to help them in their various areas of training so as to generate income to enable them be self-reliant.

In her advice, she appealed to the youth especially the selected beneficiaries to use the opportunity granted profitably in a bid to gain skills and be able to change and transform their communities.

Sr Clare Migisha concluded saying that apart from Lira Diocese, the program is being rolled out in the dioceses of Arua, Nebbi and Gulu Archdiocese by the various Religious Institutes within Gulu Ecclesiastical Province commonly known as GANAL.