Give vocational training to a young mother

During the reporting period, the Girls’ Education and Mentorship Support (GEMS) Program, implemented by Community Concerns Uganda Initiative (CCUg) in partnership with Luigi Guissan Foundation and L-Pacer, made notable progress in delivering vocational skills training to out-of-school girls in Kamuli and Luuka districts. Training in hairdressing and tailoring was successfully conducted across four vocational centres, equipping participants with practical, income-generating skills.

Achievements

• Strong stakeholder engagement, with 149 stakeholders actively involved in project supervision, monitoring, and support across target communities (Naluwoli, Namwendwa, Matuumu, Nakabaale)
• Active participation of 25 district and community leaders in sensitization meetings promoting girls’ re-enrolment, retention, and completion of education.
• Successful vocational exhibitions conducted across four centres (Naluwoli, Namwendwa, Matuumu, Nakabaale), enhancing transparency, accountability, and community ownership.
• A total of 120 out-of-school youths completed vocational skills training in hairdressing (62) and tailoring (58), gaining practical, income-generating skills.
• 27 trainees registered and sat for UVTAB certification exams, improving their employability prospects.
• 274 participants (girls and boys) benefited from Life Skills and Competencies (LSC) sessions, gaining skills in mental health, financial literacy, communication, and entrepreneurship.
• Approximately 214 girls demonstrated improved knowledge of gender issues, rights awareness, and confidence to challenge harmful norms.
• 120 girls actively participated in club activities, reporting increased confidence, decision-making ability, and active engagement.
• Strengthened parental engagement, with 149 parents participating in sessions and demonstrating improved awareness, communication, and commitment to supporting girls’ education and protection.

Key Challenges

• Limited resources to meet the high demand for vocational training and expanded support.
• Irregular attendance among some participants due to socio-economic constraints.
• Logistical difficulties in coordinating activities across multiple and geographically dispersed training centres.
• Active involvement of community leaders and stakeholders is critical for strengthening ownership, sustainability, and community support for girls’ education.
• Integrating life skills with vocational training enhances both personal development and economic empowerment outcomes.
• Parental engagement plays a key role in reinforcing learning, safeguarding, and retention of girls in education.
• Creating safe and inclusive learning environments significantly boosts confidence, participation, and positive behaviour change among beneficiaries.

Lessons Learned

• Active involvement of community leaders and stakeholders is critical for strengthening ownership, sustainability, and community support for girls’ education.
• Integrating life skills with vocational training enhances both personal development and economic empowerment outcomes.
• Parental engagement plays a key role in reinforcing learning, safeguarding, and retention of girls in education.
• Creating safe and inclusive learning environments significantly boosts confidence, participation, and positive behaviour change among beneficiaries.

• Pictures for Vocation skilling (PDF)