Learn to Earn! Trades training in Gulu, Uganda

Project Title: Empowering a Youth through BCP Skills Training :A strory about Rubangakene

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Rubangakene is a young man hailing from Owak Cell, Laroo-Pece Division in Gulu City. He is an “Advanced” High School Level dropout who was unable to continue with Uganda’s formal education system due to financial constraints and limited family support.

Like many youth in urban and peri-urban communities, Rubangakene faced uncertainty about his future after leaving school. Without practical skills and without the opportunity to pursue higher education, he risked long-term unemployment and dependency.

On 2^nd December 2025, Rubangakene enrolled in the BCP (Building Construction Practice) youth training program at Family Harvest Foundation Vocational Institute as a pathway toward self-reliance and livelihood improvement.

Rubangakene learned about the vocational skills training opportunities at Family Harvest Foundation through community outreach and peer recommendations. Motivated to change his situation, he visited the training center and applied to join the BCP department.

He chose Building Construction Practice because he recognized the growing demand for construction skills in Gulu City and the surrounding areas. He believed that acquiring hands-on skills in construction would enable him to secure employment, support himself, and contribute to his family’s well-being.

Since joining the program, Rubangakene has shown commitment and discipline in both theoretical and practical sessions. He actively participates in onsite-based learning, mastering skills such as:

Bricklaying and block laying,

Concrete mixing and slab casting,

Simple basic carpentry and formwork,

Interpretation of simple building drawings,

Site measurement and setting out,

Through access to tools, equipment, and mentorship from experienced instructors at FHF, Rubangakene has steadily built his confidence and competence.

He is now able to:

Lay bricks with proper alignment and leveling.

Participate in small construction works under supervision.

Understand safety procedures on construction sites.

His trainers report that he demonstrates leadership potential and teamwork abilities during group practical assignments.

Rubangakene has already started engaging in small paid construction-related tasks within his community, allowing him to earn modest income while still undergoing training. This has improved his self-esteem and reduced his dependency on relatives.

Rubanagakene shares:

“Dropping out of school made me feel like my future was over. But joining the BCP training has changed my mindset. I now believe I can build my life with my own hands. My dream is to become a professional builder and eventually start my own small construction company here in Gulu.”

He hopes that through continuous practice and mentorship, he will become fully employable and financially stable. In the long term, he also aspires to support other youth who have dropped out of school by encouraging them to pursue vocational skills instead of giving up.

Rubangakene’s story demonstrates how vocational skills training can transform the lives of youth who are unable to continue with formal education.

The BCP youth training program at Family Harvest Foundation provides a second chance for young people in Gulu City and surrounding communities to move from hopelessness to productivity and self-reliance.

Rubangakene’s journey serves as an inspiration to other vulnerable youth that acquiring practical skills can restore dignity, create income opportunities, and rebuild confidence for a brighter future.