This project will expands U-TOUCH entrepreneurship training in digital centers in Uganda providing entrepreneurship and technology training to enable 400 Ugandans to lift themselves out of poverty. Youth will engage in self-esteem and team building exercises, learn computer and entrepreneurship skills, including writing a business plan, and gain valuable hands-on experience developing a cooperative business.
Northern Uganda suffers from abject poverty with extreme unemployment following the 20-year LRA War. Youth need a positive strong, self-esteem and path towards economic self-sufficiency to support their family's basic and educational needs. They are yearning for empowerment, knowledge and skills to achieve employment accessed through technology and entrepreneurship training.
Our entrepreneurship program builds self-esteem through technology and entrepreneurship training. Having Internet access they research and develop business plans. With mentoring and hands-on business experience, youth gain skills and a positive self-esteem to master computer and business skills leading to employment and business development. Having an income results in self-reliance to support their family's basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education.
400 youth in one year will graduate and create a business or gain employment, increasing their incomes and improving economic conditions for themselves and their families. The indirect impact will result in better education, medical care, nutrition, shelter and clothing for over 2100 individuals in Uganda. The long-term impact to the community will be a skilled, knowledgeable, competitive and healthier workforce as role models for the next generation.
