Learn to Earn! Trades training in Gulu, Uganda

Project Title: Learn to Earn Trades School - Gulu, Uganda
Implementing Partner: Family Harvest Foundation (FHF)

Contact Persons:

• Oyat Francis Otoo – Project Team Leader
• Anne McKee – Resource Mobilizer & Board Member

1. Background
The Learn to Earn Trades School continues to empower vulnerable youth especially girls and young women in Gulu with practical vocational skills that translate into real income opportunities.

During this quarter, the project focused on training completion, certification, and strengthening pathways to employment and entrepreneurship. Despite limited funding inflows, the program sustained operations through blended support from GlobalGiving Foundation and other partners.
Trainees at the Learn to Earn Trades School during practical sessions in hairdressing and bricklaying, gaining hands-on skills for self-reliance and employment in Gulu City.
What We Accomplished This Quarter1. Certification Milestone Achieved
A total of 41 trainees successfully sat for the Uganda Vocational Training Assessment Board (UVTAB) examinations on 24th March 2026. These included:

• GlobalGiving-supported trainees - 03
• Beneficiaries from the Gulu University RETI Project - 25
• Candidates from partner institutions without certification centre number - 13

All candidates are now awaiting certificates an essential step toward formal employment and enterprise development.

2. Activities undertaken.
A cohort of 41 trainees completed their training cycle, acquiring skills in trades such as:

At FHF:

• Hairdressing - 12
• Tailoring     - 10
• Bricklaying - 06

From other school without Centre number:

• Tailoring         - 06
• Hairdressing  - 07

These graduates are now transitioning into self-employment, apprenticeships, or small business development initiatives.

3. Economic Empowerment Through VSLAs
To strengthen financial independence, trainees formed three Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) based on the different trades.

These groups are already: Encouraging a culture of saving, providing small loans for business start-up and supporting resilience among vulnerable youth thus fighting  joblessness and  poverty. 

4. Holistic Skills for Life and Livelihoods
Other than technical training, learners received additional support in:

• Art and crafts (African shoe making)
• Liquid soap production (alternative income skill)
• Life skills and mentorship sessions. 
• Business plan development sessions. 
• Spiritual and psychosocial encouragement
• Community visits to gain practical field expereince

This holistic approach ensures that graduates are not only skilled but also confident and resilient.

5. Partnerships and Capacity Building

FHF strengthened collaboration and learning through:

• Participation in the GlobalGiving March 2026 Little by Little Campaign 
• Storytelling workshops on Women, Girls, and Gender Justice
• Engagement in the Global Assembly of the Movement for Community-Led Development (MCLD)
• Planning contributions to the National Girls Summit addressing teenage pregnancy
• Advocacy meetings on Women’s Rights and Empowerment
• Sub County Child well being  networking meeting, as a committee member. 
• Movement for Community Led-Development Gender working Group
• Additionally, the organization maintained active engagement with local government and child protection structures, ensuring alignment with community priorities.

6. Institutional Growth

FHF made significant progress in formalization by initiating registration under a new identity:
REELMA Family Harvest Foundation
Approval has been granted, with final clearance pending at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB). This milestone will strengthen credibility, compliance, and future funding opportunities.
Processing licensing of the intitution by the Ministry of Education as the school Inpector and Health Inspectors have completed their part. 

Financial Summary (Jan–March 2026)

• Donations received: USD518.32 
• GlobalGiving disbursements: USD87.36 
• Total expenditure: USD2,650.01 (including co-funding from other partners)

Despite funding gaps, program activities continued uninterrupted demonstrating strong commitment and resource mobilization efforts.

7. Challenges Encountered

• Limited direct funding inflows during the quarter
• High operational costs for training materials and certification processes
• Delayed institutional processes (URSB clearance and board scheduling)
• Challenges in conducting post-training follow-up visits to track employment and business outcomes, as a result of contact and location changes of the trainees. 
• Lack of monetarry and equipment resources to support graduates to transition into income-generating activities. This has made some graduates stay without doing any IGA as they lack capital.  

8. Plans 

• Completion of  URSB registration process
• Expand fundraising efforts targeting USD 4,000 from 20 donors 
• Strengthen partnerships for scaling training opportunities
• Constitute a team to search for majordonors to start work on the school's 4.6 acres piece of land

9. Conclusion:
Every skill learned at the Learn to Earn Trades School represents more than training it represents an avenue out of poverty.

With continued support from GlobalGiving Foundation and other partners, young people in Gulu are gaining dignity, independence, and hope.

Family Harvest Foundation remains committed to empowering communities through practical hands-on skills, strong partnerships, and sustainable impact.

• Finance_Statement_January__March_2026.xls (XLS)