Report by BHW Partnership Facilitator

We met with a number of the students who are attending either Bethel Business Training Institute (first photo) or Nile Institute (second photo). 

Recent Events

Training Courses

Thomas and Joyce selected the courses that were made available trying to include good training institutions and courses that would provide practical knowledge and skills that would benefit their students into work.   They then assisted students in their decisions about which courses to enter.  Many of the students spoke of the way Thomas and Joyce have been “close guardian parents” to them and they are available to support them in many ways such as advice on living and being available to talk to about their difficulties.  Joyce spoke of the students in very positive terms affirming their hard work and choices to live in Godly and responsible ways.

All the Sudanese students have Ugandan papers because they left Sudan early and are able to be employed in Uganda because of this.  Many of the Sudanese students hope that one day peace will return to Sudan so that they might return and help build their communities again.  Many of these students are planning to return to Koboko however they are aware that they will need to gain work where they can.  Also returning to Koboko will be easier for those with people to live with while some do not have people to stay with.  Either way these students and Thomas and Joyce consider that they will be ‘dependent’ until they can earn.

While we were with the first group we had discussions about the growing population in Koboko because of the refugee crisis and the growing need for their skills and the lower costs for living there.  NGO’s will also require their skills.   The issues of having fellowship with each other and reducing isolation were raised as well as the benefits of business connections and support from each other where possible.

For those students studying longer programs they are required to find their own internment placements and support their own living costs while on placement.  This is very challenging for these young students without family able to help them with this.

Personal Stories

Ayiki Moses

Moses is 22 years old. With the current political crisis in South Sudan there were many difficulties and his family had no place to stay. His parents are in a refugee camp. Their eldest son is married with children and Moses is their youngest son.

He had the opportunity to apply for this training and is grateful to have been selected. He is studying OPA which is Open Access (a type of programming). This is an intensive 1-year course that has a strong practical component so is very beneficial for gaining employment.

This opportunity has bought him to a new place in his life.

Moro Oscar

Oscar is 20 years old and was raised as a Sudanese refugee in Uganda however his parents were deported and now live in a camp in Yei. They are not able to leave as they are completely cut off. He has five brothers and sisters however only one is in Uganda.

Oscar explained that his fellow students and housemates are his closest friends. His parents are unable to support him due to the war and the fact they are living as refugees and surviving on aid. His father is a primary school teacher however due to the circumstances he was not able to support Oscar into school. A relative helped and despite challenges he was able to achieve A levels by attending school to Senior 6 level.

He is currently studying OPA which is Open Access (a type of programming). This is an intensive 1-year course that has a strong practical component so is beneficial for working.

Oscar hopes to gain employment however spoke of the challenges of this happening. He also spoke of the options of establishing his own business or gaining project work. He hopes to study further to gain a Bachelor degree as this might improve opportunity for work and success.

Tom Brown

Tom is 23 years old and left Sudan in 1992 when there was no conflict between the north and south of Sudan. He has been a UN refugee and lived most of his life in Uganda. In 2014 he had studied to A level through the UN. He then returned to Sudan, Juba in December 2014.

In 2016 when a crisis occurred he left and returned to Uganda however his mother was caught and had to stay in Juba. He has been staying with his eldest sister and a few ‘followers’ in Koboko.

In January 2017 he was given the opportunity to study in Jinja. He is studying IT, including Open Access programming, graphics and image working. He is doing well in his study and is expecting to put these skills he is learning into practice. He thinks he will need support to set up a business so that he can earn in the first year. He would like to have the opportunity to return to study in 2019.

He plans to work within Uganda however when peace returns to Sudan he would like to return home to work and possibly teach his skills to others.

Moro Ben

Ben is 21 years old and is one of six children. His father remained in Yei but his mother is living in Koboko and experiencing significant difficulties caring for the children as the UN provides food but not education. Ben’s maternal uncle supported him through school until year 11, Senior 6, in Koboko. After this he had no avenue to study further and life was hard. Despite this he said “let me try” and applied to have this opportunity.  He is very glad to have this chance to study video editing and graphics.

When he finishes he wants to set up his own business and hopes to help his family and community in Koboko.

Keki Tawor

Keki is 23 years old and came from the northern side of Katoom. He met a missionary worker who was a Sudanese farmer and was taken to Koboko to live within the church compound in 2007.  Here he was helped into schooling. He has not been able to see his parents since 2007 and does not even have any contact details for them. In 2014 he returned to Yei however with the troubles there he lost hope.

In December 2016 he was interviewed and succeeded in being able to study in Jinja and his hope for education returned. This has created a big change for him. When he finishes his computer studies he hopes to get work however he knows that this will not be easy.

Likambu Isaak Moses 

Isaak is 26 years old. Both his parents are very unwell with asthma and live in Kaya. When he was young he had to stop school in 2010 after reaching O level because he needed to work to support his younger siblings. He has four brothers and one sister. He worked in a gas station but lost hope and prayed that God would help him.  

Currently his mother is in Koboko and his father is in a refugee camp in north western Uganda. One sister is married, three brothers are at home and one brother is in school. In 2016 he travelled to Koboko to bring church instruments to a place of security because of the conflict. There he spoke to the pastor and applied for this opportunity to study.

Isaak is doing a 3-month intensive graphics and web design course.  He desires to serve God and contribute to his community.

Francis Mimalish Steven

Francis is 22 years old and his parents are refugees from Sudan living in Uganda. The family came from Yei. In 2016 they came to Uganda and lived in Bidibidi refugee camp.

Francis is the secnd born of six children and his uncle helped him in education to reach level 4. He is in his second year of a two year electrical installation course in Jinja and is the best student in his class achieving distinction last year.

He hopes to give what he has back to God. He hopes to achieve employment but is unsure where as he knows he will have to go wherever he can get work. 

Whinney Charity

Charity is 20 years old. She lost her father seven years ago and her mother cares for six children.

She was able to study to O level through the Koboco church and is currently in her first year of a two year catering and hotel management course in Jinja. She is able to practice in the institution's kitchen and would like to have a business making pastries to sell to shops and eventually own a pastry shop.

Aligo Vincent

Vincent is 27 years old and comes from Yei but was working in Juba. In July 2016 he moved to Uganda as a refugee.  His parents live in a refugee camp with their other children.

He is currently in his first year of a two year water plumbing course.  He hopes to get work and have a private business.

Jogo Margaret James

Margaret is 23 years old and is the first born of eight children. Her family lived in Kojokaji (just below Yei). Margaret reached O level education in 2010 in Koboko and then moved back to be with her family in Yei. However, a year ago they went to Uganda and are now living in Rhino refugee camp in Uganda. The pastor in Koboko gave her the opportunity to apply for this education opportunity.

Margaret is doing child care and is studying well. This is a one year programme and she is being advised by her teachers to return for a further two years to become a nursery teacher.

Dominic John Adam

Dominic is 24 years old. Three of his family members have died and his father, who was a government soldier, was shot. He now has just one brother in Juba.

Dominic spent a year in Rhino refugee camp. He had the opportunity to apply for this education and has begun a two year course in brick laying and concrete practice.