We met with a number of the students who are attending either Bethel Training Institute (first photo) or Nile Institute (second photo).
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.
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.
Willi FredWilli is 22 years old and is from Koboko, Uganda.
He has three older brothers and attended school until year 11. He had to leave school when his father left his mother as she was unable to pay for schooling. 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 beneficial for gaining employment. When he finishes he plans to gain income so that he can study further as he wants to study IT at higher levels.
Wani JumaJuma is 21 years old and is fromKoboko district. His mother is a single parent with six children and experiences poor health. Although she wants to, she is unable to help him with education.
Juma spoke about the big difference to his life with having the opportunity to study and gain knowledge and skills. He is studying computer maintenance, graphics and programming languages.
He would like to establish his own business and continue to learn and progress in education.
Ben is 22 years old. His parents have nine children and struggle to support their children so Ben left school at Senior 4.
Ben belongs to the "family of God" and is glad to have an opportunity to study this intensive short program in Graphics and Computer networking.
He hopes to get a job and put himself “right with people”. He loves to study and loves having a purpose. One day he wants to own his own business and is glad to be gaining practical skills. He also thinks that one day he would like to be able to train others.
Norman is 28 years old. His mother is Sudanese and his father Ugandan. His father was older and unable to work to support the family. His mother managed to support him into school until Senior 6 in 2008. That year he lost his mother and went to live with his father who was unable to help him to attend school. He has younger sisters.
Norman is married with a 4 year old son and a 2 year old daughter. His wife is a teacher and earns a small amount of money but is able to sustain their son in nursery school. Norman sees it as important to earn so that his son will get the chance to learn.
He is studying IT, graphics and architectural drawing. He hopes to open a business of his own and also to upgrade his education once he is earning.
Oloka MichaelMichael is 20 years old andcomes from Tororo. After his grandmother died he lived with other family who came to Jinja to work.
At church he met with Pastor Thomas who encouraged him to get a skill. He is now doing a one year program in cosmetology (hairdressing) at St Matia, Mulumba Polytechnic. He is a boarding student.
Michael is working hard and hopes to complete his training at the end of this year. He would eventually like to open up a salon by the Nile.
Barbara is 23 years old and has grown up in Jinja. Her mother and father have nine children and she is the eldest. Her father on sells fish however struggles to make enough income for the family. Barbara therefore had to stop schooling from S6 level as the money for schooling needed to go to her younger siblings.
Barbara lost hope that she could return to learning however got this opportunity through Pastor Joyce. She is attending Bethal Institute and studying IT, technology information which is a six month to one year program. She began this in March 2017. She lives at home and finds the course good. She does not have her own computer and sometimes there are challenges with accessing time on the computer to practice what she is learning due to the large number of students and limited number of computers.
When she finishes her study she hopes to get a job and help with financially supporting her family and siblings.
Bridget is 19 years old and comes from near Fort Portal in Uganda. She is doing one year certificate in hotel management and institutional catering through the YMCA Business Studies Institute in Jinja.
She lives at home with her cousin and sister in Jinja as her father and mother both died. Alongside studying she works as a maid to earn study costs as her scholarship contributes 50% of the study fees.
She has other challenges also, for example travel costs and arranging an internship by herself as well as payment of costs involved in internship.
She would like to work when she is finished and eventually upgrade to a diploma program for two further years of study. At some time she would like to own her own business.