Youth and women empowerment 2016
Youth and women empowerment is a pilot community-based project that brings a section of people in society especially the youths and young women an effort to innovate, empower and give them a head start in life through inform-education programs and entrepreneur ship skills. Youth and women empowerment program is designed by Vision for Sustainable Development (
VFSD) for youths and young women to transform with regards to plan for tackling unemployment, poverty and development through practical skills training programs and entrepreneur ship skills programs. This program focuses on youths aged 15-35 years and creates a room for educated and non-educated youths in the communities and the country at large. WHAT IS VFSD? THE ORGANISATION:
Vision for Sustainable Development (VFSD) is a non-governmental/community based organization formed in 2005 and duly registered in 2006 under the non-government registration statute of 1989, with the Ministry of Internal Affairs NGO’s board under the department of community welfare services with Reg.No.S.5914/6136.& K.C.C.A community welfare department registration KAW-15-082 The organization is permitted to operate in Kampala District. Mission
To provide sustainable income generating activities and skills to vulnerable groups, youths and women so that they can sustain economically and improve their living standards. Vision:
To have an empowered community were Vulnerable live a sustainable economic life. LOCATION:
The organization is located in kawempe division 3kms off Bombo road the head quarts in Kawempe division Kazoo-Lugoba. VFSD is youths lead organization which has come to address the challenging situation suppressing youths and young women in Uganda of Unemployment and poverty, affecting youth’s welfare, political, social-economical and advancement through the Vocational skilling program. Unemployment in youths and young women is the mainstream of injustice, poverty, adoption of evil acts and bring insecurity in the country and all over the world through extremism, terrorism, human trafficking radicalism, sexual slavery, illegal migration and theft. E.t.c)
As the world now has the largest generation aged 15-25 in history making up a quarter of the world’s population. Almost 90% of this age group live in developing countries yet these countries have done less to enroll young people to plan for tackling poverty and development (partners for change 2014 report)
Youth in Uganda are the youngest population in the world, with 77% of its population being under 30 years of age. There are 7,310,386 youths from the ages of 15–24 years of age living in Uganda
Uganda has the world’s largest percentage of young people 30-70% according to the 2012 state of Uganda population by UN population fund youth unemployment in Uganda is the highest in Africa 62%.( UN REPORT 31 DEC 2015)
Uganda has the highest marital status and maternal mortality rate putting the population growth rapidly high with youth aged 15-30 these are youths out of school, poor families, and unemployed 80% of these youths and young women live in slum areas and ghetto places. Population growth is at 3.2% UNICEF REPORT. Putting the country’s economic development at risk. International labor organization (ILO) global report indicates two-thirds of young population15-24 years face unemployment 67.9%, ACTIONAID 62%, UNICEF 83%, and AFRICAN DEVELOPMNT BANK 83% UNFPA 78% , USAID 62% 2015 report release. YOUTH EDUCATION IN UGANDA
Uganda introduced private sponsorship into the public universities. By 2005, there were 27 universities in Uganda and of which 80% were private institutions. The youth literacy rates between 2005 and 2010 were 90% for males and 85% for females. Only students who have successfully completed A-levels and passed their Uganda Advanced Certification of Education are eligible to enter postsecondary institutions. There are three types of publicly supported institutions in Uganda. They consist of autonomous institutions, institutions run by the Ministry of Education, and institutes administered by the Public Service Commission. It is estimated that more than 40,000 young people graduate from Ugandan universities each year. Yet the market can provide only 8,000 jobs annually. The unemployment rate for young people ages 15–24 is 83%. This rate is even higher for those who have formal degrees and live in the urban area. This is due to the disconnect between the degree achieved and the vocational skills needed for the jobs that are in demand for workers. Those without a degree are also not able to obtain jobs because they lack the skills needed for the position or they don’t have the resources such as land or capital. Some youths also have negative views on certain jobs so they are unwilling to take them if offered a position. Youth unemployment poses a serious political, economic, and social challenge to the country and its leadership. The cycle is making it increasingly difficult for Uganda to break out of poverty. Young women also more often have to stay at home in a maternal role from a very young age which limits their ability to work. UNICEF REPORT 2015
ILO International lobar Organization: Lack of skills is a global problem ( ILO) says training institutions continue to produce graduates whose skills do not match what the market wants this mismatch makes harder to tackle youth unemployment. VFSD’S Y.I.E.P.P program is on the platform to fill the gaps of skills needed and lacked by the youths and young women to obtain employments and to become competitive entrepreneurs through practical training projects or hands on skilling. OUTCOMES OF UNEMPLOYMENT OF YOUTHS IN UGANDA THAT HAVE OCCURED
TERRORISM
From 1997 the Allied Democratic Front, a terrorist organization based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, threw bombs into taxis and public buildings. More than 50 people were killed and more than 160 were injured. Suspects were held in safe houses. The Uganda Human Rights Commission and other non-governmental organizations criticized this process because suspects were allegedly held for more than the legal 48 hours before being charged with a crime and were tortured in googles warehouses.
2010s On 11 July 2010, su***de bombings were carried out against crowds watching a screening of 2010 FIFA World Cup Final match during the World Cup at two locations in Kampala. The attacks left 74 dead and 70 injured. The Al-Shabbab militant group claimed responsibility for the attacks as retaliation for Ugandan support for AMISOM. On 5 July 2014, several tribal gunmen armed with machetes and spears attacked in Kasese, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo districts killing civilians, military officers and policemen. It led to loss of 93 people and property worth millions of shillings. SEX-SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICING And some young women are taking jobs overseas only to find themselves forced into prostitution, according to Ugandan police. "Every month, we get reports of over 20 Ugandans stranded seeking help. If the figure is multiplied in a year, it comes to over 250 Ugandans stranded abroad every year," says Moses Binoga, co-ordinator of the Anti-human Trafficking National Task Force. THEFT AND INSECURITY
In the past decade, Uganda has experienced strong GDP growth, averaging 7% annually, but this has not generated jobs, a trend seen across the continent. Lack of employment is causing some young people to take risks. Last July, 36 young people, who had been running motorcycle taxis, were burnt to death as they tried to siphon fuel from a truck that had been involved in an accident. Youth have created smuggling groups allover the capital city KAMPALA e.g. KIFACE GROUP, B-13, KASOLO GROUP. These group are harmful and dangerous to communities. DRUG TRAFFICKIN Other young people are involved in drug trafficking. Dr Paul Nyende, a senior lecturer at Makerere University's School of Psychology, says young people with nothing to do are more easily lured into crime. "They can easily be lured into drug trafficking on promise of big pay," he says. "Many young people don't want to go back to the villages and do farming after campus. They want to stay and enjoy city life." HUMANTRAFFICKING
Statistically, Uganda is witnessing a decline in reported cases of human trafficking. According to the National Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Office, there were 837 cases in 2013 and 293 in 2014. But these statistics are not cause for celebration, because to us in Uganda. Despite the success of awareness campaigns, Uganda still grapples with the challenges of counter-trafficking and more youths encouraged registering for international employment but finding themselves in different directions. The biggest treasure now is middle east the lack of unemployment is the key fact.and rehabilitation centers, which has left survivors unshielded from their traffickers. VFSD’S Youth and women empowerment 2016 IMPLEMENTATION
In 2014-2015 financial year VFSD has implemented the Youth and women empowerment program to youths and young women in kawempe division and the results were positive. 120 youths were enrolled on the program 70 female and 50 male in different development skills project. They completed their practical skills training program and entrepreneurial skills training program, 80% of youths have created their own businesses well-as 40% lack start-up capital. Youth and women empowerment program designed by VFSD, the structures and the pillars are stretched on the UN millennium development goals or (MDGS) post-2015 development goals. In 2016 VFSD is launching Youth and women empowerment program under the UN sustainable development goals (SDGS) or post-2015 agenda the future global development forum work that will succeed the millennium development goals (MDGS) post-2015 development goals. This helps the organization to build up partnership and move in the same direction with government of Uganda, International organizations and other local big institute.
