Offering Vocational Skilling is really important in rural villages - with no transport, excepting possibly a bicycle, many school leavers and school drop outs have very limited opportunities to earn a living.

In 2024/5 we are starting Vocational Skilling at Bishop Willigers Secondary - using the school premises during the three school holidays. This will be professionally run by a local NGO who has considerable experience in supporting and training the youth in the community. The courses will reflect the interests of the students - but to start with Sewing/Tailoring, Hairdressing, are planned all leading to a Level 1 National Accreditation. As many of the students will be school drop outs the NGO will also offer Literacy and Numeracy catch up lessons to the students who are struggling, as these students following graduation will need to be work ready to start up and run a small business.

First Session: A Promising Start

The first training session ran from 11th December 2024 to 3rd February 2025, with 13 girls enrolling in Sewing/Tailoring and 12 in Hairdressing.

Sewing/Tailoring students learned:

• How to operate both manual and electric sewing machines

• How to measure and cut fabric accurately

• A range of stitches and garment construction

• How to make straight shirts, blouses, round skirts, gathered skirts, elastic shorts, and dresses

Hairdressing students were introduced to basic salon practices including:

• Braiding and plaiting techniques

• Hair washing and care

• Customer service and hygiene standards

• Basic entrepreneurship concepts

Despite our hopes for higher enrolment, we recognised that the £20 annual student fee (payable in three instalments) has been a barrier for some. However, this modest fee covers lunch and all training materials and helps ensure commitment and attendance. The value of the training — leading to a nationally accredited certificate, delivered by qualified vocational instructors — remains extremely high. We are confident that numbers will grow as the programme becomes more widely known.

Looking Ahead

This programme is designed to span four months of training per year, delivered across three school holiday terms. As word spreads through IDDA and community partners, we expect participation to rise. We’re also planning to introduce more certificate-level courses in the near future, expanding opportunities for young people to build livelihoods and break the cycle of poverty.

Session 2 is now underway (May 2025) — and the numbers are growing!

We are proud of what has been achieved so far and deeply grateful to our partners, trainers, and supporters. Together, we are building brighter futures right in the heart of rural Uganda.