Projects | Skill Up

Skill Up – Empowering Youth Through Vocational Skills and Apprenticeship

Our community faces a significant skills gap, particularly among its youth. Many young people in our community lack access to quality education and vocational training, which limits their ability to secure stable employment or start their own businesses. The district’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, with few opportunities for formal employment in other sectors. As a result, many youths are left without the technical skills needed for modern, higher-paying jobs or the entrepreneurial skills to create their own income-generating activities. The existing education and training programs often do not align with the demands of the local job market, leaving a mismatch between available skills and employer needs. This situation has led to high unemployment rates, underemployment, and economic dependency among young people. Addressing this skills gap through targeted vocational training and apprenticeship programs is critical to fostering economic growth, reducing poverty, and empowering the youth of Kasese to build a more resilient community.

The Skill Up project is dedicated to empowering youth by providing them with valuable vocational skills and apprenticeship opportunities, creating a pathway to a brighter future. This initiative aims to equip every young person in the community with the practical skills and knowledge needed to secure employment, start their own businesses, and build a stronger, more resilient community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The Skill Up Project is offering hands-on training in a wide range of market-relevant skills, from carpentry, tailoring, and plumbing to baking, entrepreneurship, and more. Our focus is on aligning the training with the needs of the local economy, ensuring that the skills youth gain, are directly applicable to available job opportunities and business ventures. The project also connects youth with experienced mentors through apprenticeships, providing them with real-world experience and the chance to learn from industry professionals. This approach helps young people build not only technical expertise but also essential soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. It prepares them for the workforce with the confidence and adaptability needed to succeed.

At Solidlinks, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to build a better future for themselves and their families. By investing in the potential of youth, we are not only transforming individual lives but also contributing to the economic growth and social cohesion of the entire community. This project is about more than just skills—it’s about fostering hope, resilience, and a vision for a community where every youth has the chance to achieve their dreams. Together, we are building a future where no one is left behind.

Voices of Beneficiaries

Before joining this project by Solidlinks, I didn’t know where my future was heading. I was here with my grandmother stuck, only looking up to her and sometimes having to work in people’s gardens to get pay and I buy clothes and get what to eat. Now, with the tailoring skills I’ve gained, I have started my own small business. I can make clothes for young children and women wraps. From the money I am getting, I can now support my grandmother and my siblings and I am also saving for my dream which is to acquire an electric sewing machine so that I can start making school Uniforms.s. I am grateful to Solidlinks for changing my life.

Masika Sarah 20yrs