The main problem of youths in Uganda is unemployment. Despite a national economic growth rate of 6% per year, the formal sector is not able to absorb the fast growing population. Every second Ugandan is below the age of 15 and that will most likely make the situation worse in the near future. As a consequence, youth all over Uganda are struggling to find their place in society and crime, prostitution and drug abuse are prevalent among young people.

This situation originates out of a number of reasons, one of them being the formal education system that does not focus on practical and relevant skills. Even university graduates spend years in unemployment, while the private sector experiences a shortage of skilled workers. Most youth are poorly equipped to sell themselves in a competitive labour market and receive very little career guidance to improve their situation.

In early 2011, Fontes Foundation was contacted by a local youth group in Makindye, a suburb of Kampala, to address the issue. Fontes Foundation carried out a background study of the situation through interviews and field analysis, in order to develop a concept that would respond to the needs of the employers, the market, and the youth themselves.

Plenty of employment opportunities emerged, but they required entrepreneurial skills, personal development capabilities and a very strong work ethics. Equipped with this knowledge, Fontes Foundation started working on the Fontes Youth Development Centre. With generous funding from the Balder Foundation in Norway, the Centre was built in 2011 in a simple and cost-effective structure made of shipping containers.

The Core Course is a 6 months full-time programme structured around Business English, Entrepreneurship, ICT and Personal Development classes. As a final exam, students present a business plan to a panel of experts, using the full spectrum of skills they acquired.

The Fontes Youth Development Centre offers Short Courses both in English and Computer Skills, aimed at those with education levels below secondary school. These courses allow a motivated, hard-working student to acquire sufficient skills to then move on to the Core Course.

Throughout the Core Course, students are followed by a mentor to build their confidence, a vision in their life and receive much needed career advice. In addition, the Centre regularly hosts motivational talks from successful entrepreneurs or career coaches.

Fontes Foundation follows up with students for at least 2 years with continuous mentorship and guidance. Further support is offered by the Alumni Organisation through networking opportunities and business development services.

Uganda has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Sub-Saharan Africa. Many of these young mothers are forced to drop out of school due to their family responsibilities. The Single Mothers Programme (SMP) was designed to support teen mothers in setting up small businesses in hair dressing, baking, beadwork, soap making and several other different trades. These micro-businesses can help them provide for themselves and their families and escape the cycle of poverty.

The Single Mothers Programme trains over 200 women every year. In addition to the training, childcare services are provided, for the women to be able to attend the sessions without being interrupted by their children. Almost 100 children come to Fontes Youth Development Centre with their mothers every year. The trainings take 12 weeks and are divided into only 4 sessions a month. The centre has been able to facilitate over 6 training modules a year since it was piloted in August 2014 and supports over 40 women monthly.

With funding from the Sibylle Robert Walter Foundation the Programme continues to provide skilling for women in various trades as a direct result, employment opportunities and micro businesses have opened up. Participation of the women at the centre has also impacted the wellbeing of their children who are able to enjoy a protected environment with a child minder and toys.

Since the launch of Fontes Foundation’s Youth Development Centre (FYC) in 2012, we have been organising recreational activities open to the entire local community. The foundation of our Music Dance and Drama Team (MDD) was followed by Fontes Football Club. The initial idea was twofold. By engaging with the local community, we aimed to learn more about the challenges people face. Additionally, we sought to extend our reach and spread the word about the education opportunities we offer.

We are delighted that our projects overshot the goals we had initially set. The Fontes Cultural Troupe performs modern and traditional dances from all cultures in Uganda. Their shows at the centre are very entertaining and always well received. To unfold their creativity, dancers are invited to choreograph their own performances and they have been writing plays on relevant issues such as HIV/AIDS.As teams have developed over time, our MDD group is ready to step to the next level and perform at weddings and tourist events. A concrete business plan is currently being compiled for the MDD team soon to be self-sustainable. With the growing tourism industry in Uganda, it bears the potential of offering additional sources of income to the members.

The Football Team is not only officially registered in Uganda Football Association (FUFA); it also turned out to be a spring board for some of the players. Coach Vialli’s connections allowed a couple players to play for teams in higher leagues, where they earn money. Furthermore, two players received football scholarships from high schools and were able to go back to school and finish their education.

Fontes Foundation has also been running a Scholarship Program – read more on it here.

Latest news

Keep updated with the latest activities at the Youth Development Centre. Whether it’s a motivation talk or a practical skills workshop, the atmosphere at the Centre is always buzzing with business ideas and positive spirit.