UK Aid – ETC of PWD

Disability, GDPU, UK Aid, Vocational Training

VPlus: the story so far

VPlus was the shorter name for the Enhancing the Capacity of Young Persons with Disability through Vocational and Literacy Education and Training project, delivered by Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) and jointly funded by the Enhancing the Capacity of Persons with Disability charity (ETC of PWD) and UK Aid Direct. UK Aid funding has now finished.

VPlus Cohort 1 Graduation Day Graduates with the GDPU Chair: Allii Geoffrey

Who was VPlus for?

VPlus was targeted at young persons with disabilities in Northern Uganda, many of whom have received little or no formal education. They enrolled on a six-month vocational training course at the GDPU training centre combined with all-important ‘Plus’ elements of training in literacy, numeracy, financial literacy, and cultural and community activity which build confidence and self- esteem.

Post Training Support

The six-month training is followed by long-term support to graduates in establishing and sustaining businesses or employment. In 2021 and 2022 113 young persons with disability graduated from two training cohorts and, in 2023 are working on establishing a business or finding a job to earn income.

Aroma Elvis and his mother being supported on skill gaps

VPlus: some figures
•         119 recruited to the two cohorts (53 Cohort 1; 66 Cohort 2) and 115 graduated/passed their exams (49;66). Of these, one carried onto further training and one, sadly died. So GDPU, supported 113 trainees. (64F, 49M; all bar one with disabilities; 89 aged 15 to 24 years and 24 aged 25 to 32; all from Gulu.)
•         In addition, the project trained 32 GDPU staff and workplace providers in safeguarding and, for GDPU staff, sign language.
•         Cumulatively, 114 trainees (100%) are showing that they have improved their confidence and self-esteem significantly, some more than others (65F, 49M; 113 disabled.)
•         94 graduates (44M, 50F) having increased their income by the end of the project,
•         107 graduates from both training programmes securing employment or establishing a business (62F, 45M; all bar one with disabilities; 64 aged 15 to 24, 23 aged 25 to 32.) This includes a couple of trainees who were employed within their family’s farming work but not paid a wage. The employment of 98 (58F, 40M) of these was assessed as being sustainable.

This case study probably sums up the VPlus approach best:

VPlus@GDPU 2023 Case Study 1: Akello Brenda

Akello Brenda with Musema Faruk (VPlus Programme Coordinator)

Akello Brenda is a Cohort 1 Design and Decoration VPlus graduate who has a real eye for colour and design. She returned to GDPU to help teach Cohort 2 trainees and their new instructor in basket weaving. (The previous instructor decided to move on and a new instructor with different skills was employed.)

Brenda’s Dream

Akello Brenda used to make her products at home, supported with the cost of materials by her mother, where she also helped in other work of her family. She takes her products to the big, local market once a month where they sell well. However, it is some way to travel, and the market days were occasionally rained off. Brenda dreamt of finding a unit in the trading centre on the main road, as well as learning how to make more complicated jewelry.

How the Revolving Loan Scheme Helped

In 2022 she was supported with a revolving capital loan of about UGX 150,000/= (about £35.00) from the VPlus @ GDPU project. Interest is not charged on loans from this fund and there are no strings attached to it, in order to help VPlus beneficiaries consolidate, enhance and grow the business they have started.

Brenda Realises Her Dream

With support from her parents, Brenda gained new skills in tailoring by enrolling in the Emmanuel School of Fashion where she studied on weekends. She graduated in August 2022, and managed to buy a sewing machine for UGX 350,000/= (about £75.00) from her savings. She found a shared space to make and sell her products in the centre of Loyo Boo, Unyama Sub-county, Gulu District. She always displays her products for tailoring and decoration in front of her shop, Brenda also goes to every Sunday market day to sell her products. She earns an average of UGX 25,000/= (about £6.00) in a week.

The ‘Plus’ Element

Brenda enjoyed the non-vocational elements of the VPlus programme as well, especially the traditional dance in which she excelled and which gave her the confidence to develop her own business.

Akello Brenda and VPlus Cohort 1 at their Graduation Day

Challenges and the future for Brenda

Brenda’s Sickle Cell Anaemia is an issue, a hidden impairment, which has greatly affected her business because of frequent admissions to hospital.
High market competition especially from traders who have started hawking their wares from house to house, diminishing the incentive customers to come to shop based traders.
Lack of materials for basket weaving which are sometimes out of stock in Gulu as these materials are brought from Congo.

VPlus and the future

What next? Is it all over for training and support for these determined young people? Not at all. Please see the next blog for news about Vplusplus @GDPU and exciting news about another new programme: VIVA@GDPU.

Want to know more?

A Support Session for VPlus graduates at GDPU

If you would like to know more about the ETC of PWD charity please go to our Home page.

If you would like to give something, please go to our Donate page.

If you would like to know more about Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) please go to their website or Facebook page.

Many Thanks.

VPlus was match funded by UK Aid Direct and ETC of PWD

ETC of PWD is supported by its trustees and private donations

Disability, GDPU, Gulu, UK Aid, Vocational Training

Tracer Studies and Post Training Support

Vplus vocational training for young people with disabilities, at Gulu Disabled Persons Union, has been completed. This programme is supported by the UK based charity ETC of PWD and match funded by UK Aid. We are now fully into the Post Training Support programme.

Tracer studies are the backbone of post training support. As name suggests, it’s about tracing trainees; where are they now, what are they doing, what extra support do they need? And, of course it’s a vital form of feedback on that their earlier training programme: what worked and what didn’t what should be changed next time?

All of the information below comes from recent field reports by the Vplus team as they go about Post Training Support.

Tracer Studies: how do they work?

The main aim of these Tracer Studies is to find the 66 Vplus youth from Cohort 2 of the programme. Actually, given the nature of their locations and forms of activity, it also involves trainees from Cohort 1 and even those we supported during the etc@gdpu programme some years ago. Tracer Studies take three forms:

Home visit.
Phone calls.
Visits to workstations.

And cover the following Districts:

Gulu with 16 students,
Gulu City with 28 students,
Nwoya with 4 students,
Omoro with 9 students,
Kitgum with 2 students,
Amuru with 5 students and
Pader with 2 students.

Objectives of the Tracer Studies.

To help identify and locate where our beneficiaries are working from or staying.
To check on the different activities our students are directly involved in after completing their skills training.
To identify the success, gaps and challenges our beneficiaries are going through in regards to employment, and skills.
To support and guide our students in stages of their business plan development and implementation.
To check on any safeguarding issues our beneficiaries are facing and offer all forms of supports and referrals.

Statistics from the Tracer Studies

Bob Gumakiriza at Niange Ber Motorcycle Repair one of the workshop in Koch Goma

60 youth were followed up, through the different methods listed above.

In Cohort 2, 22 out of 66 beneficiaries are employed by others. The highest number of employed are from Motorcycle Repair and Maintenance and Hairdressing courses.

Akello Fiona working on the hair of a customer

In Cohort 2, 13 out of 66 beneficiaries are self-employed in three areas: Electronic Repair and Maintenance; Tailoring; and Decoration and Design.

25 out of 66 beneficiaries are still unemployed: 15 females and 10 males. Some are still in the process of job search. Others are planning to start their own businesses, mostly through parental support and the Revolving Capital Loan, especially for Sweater Weaving.

Sweater Weaving is a seasonal business that won’t start until schools go back after the Ebola outbreak shutdown (in February). We are also still in the peak period for farming and many trainees have to work on family concerns. Parents are waiting for money to come back from farming before they can support their child..

6 out of 66 students are not have not yet been traced but the team are working hard to reach out to them.

Some Examples and Case Studies from the Tailoring course:

Tailoring was a new addition to the Vplus programme, with a new instructor (an ex- graduate). After evaluation and discussion with past trainees we realised that Tailoring could be an employment route in some contexts. In the past Tailoring has been put down, certainly Gulu Town is overloaded with tailors, but as we have discovered, away from the town the picture is different.

11 students graduated from this course with a total of 4 employed and 4 self- employed and 3 only unemployed. As the Tracer Studies have shown, there is a high demand for tailoring in the rural communities.

A Case Study in Tailoring: Lakica Sharon

Lakica Sharon lives in Odek sub-county and trained in tailoring at GDPU under Vplus. She has strong support from her parents, they have done all they can to empower their daughter to earn a dignified life.

During the visit the Vplus team saw how she communicates well with customers bringing in clothes for repair; she has challenged the stereotypes people have about people with disabilities. Sharon has made UGX 20,000 from minor repair of clothes, usually costing UGX 500 to 1000/. You can now imagine how busy she is in the village, the next tailor within the village is about 5km away.

A Case Study in Tailoring: Achiro Joyce

Achiro Joyce, is a mother of one child and lives in Palara village, Odek, 6 km from Acet trading center. She rents her sewing machine from a neighbour for UGX 20,000 per month, although this is high she did not refuse because she wants to work. Her workplace is just under a tree, near the road side alongside her family home.

The Vplus team managed to meet her parents and they expressed interest in the Revolving Capital Loan scheme to get a machine for their daughter. Joyce is very happy with the change she has experienced in her life she managed to make UGX 35,000 within two weeks of her work.

Successes registered:

8 graduates are employed directly in tailoring.
Another good example: Lanyero Scovia from Omoro Omony Jubi village, her parent bought a second hand sewing machine at a cost of UGX 200,000 and she has started working at home.
Students are learning new skills from the engagement they have with others and the work that they are doing, especially those employed by others.
We have witnessed improved livelihood in the families of the youth who completed their training and are working.

Challenges:

Post Training Support visit with VPlus Programme Manager and GDPU Head Teacher: Musema Faruk

Trainees still have gaps in skills and knowledge about maintenance and minor repairs of the sewing machine. For example Achiro from Odek, said she cannot mend machines herself and only one person who can repair machines, and she has to move 6 km to Acet center to find him.
Heavy rainfall affects a number of the youth in the rural centres, because they work under trees and in front of houses.
It’s a farming season, people are planting and harvesting which cuts the number of customers they receive.
Commitments at home, like farming and cooking, have prevented number of students from getting employment.
High levels of poverty mean trainees cannot afford to buy equipment and materials.
Trainees have Skill gaps in making other fashions, like Gomez, (the traditional dresses for formal occasions), shorts, etc
Recording the transactions made in the record book is still a big gap.

Recommendations:

Opiyo Benson in his workshop in Koch-Goma

Training on repair and maintenance skills.
Trainees need more training on book keeping.
To support youth who are interested in the Revolving Capital
Support visit by GDPU instructors to selected youth who need support in identified gaps and demands from their communities.

Safeguarding

A Reflection Meeting at GDPU with VPlus Guidance Counsellor: Okello Emma

Although many graduates live with their families, they are still vulnerable, often from members of their extended family. Tracer Studies are also support visits, and will include Guidance Counsellors amongst the team. Sadly, these visits often uncover significant safeguarding issues.

Recent trips have included supporting parents and trainees in reporting abuse by other members of the family, helping to collect evidence and present it to the Police, providing sign language interpreters for deaf graduates in liaising with the Police and in court, and continuous follow up after official involvement.

Safeguarding in this context is a very difficult area needing highly skilled people. GDPU programme officers are used to dealing with the communities involved and through constant training have become very skilled and experienced in this field.

Members sharing their experience’s during the reflection meetings at Koch Goma

Some Conclusions

As Post Training Support rolls out on the Vplus training programme across a wide area of Gulu and surrounding districts, it is great to hear these reports. We can see how the lives of these young people are developing as a result of the training and support they have been given. It is so heartening to see Vplus trainees take up new opportunities and cope with the challenges that life throws at them.

Want to know more?

If you would like to know more about the ETC of PWD charity please go to our Home page.

If you would like to give something, please go to our Donate page.

If you would like to know more about Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) please go to their website or Facebook page.

Many Thanks.

This programme is match funded with aid from the British people

Disability, GDPU, Gulu, UK Aid, Vocational Training

The Revolving Loan Scheme

The aim of vocational training is, of course, to get the trainee from training to lasting work; to a sustainable life. As the VPlus programme for youth with disabilities in Gulu, Northern Uganda has shown, core skills training is only a small part of that process. What happens for example, after training at the centre is equally important.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is p1140032.jpg — Electronics Repair trainees in a lesson at GDPU

Post Training

‘Post Training Support’ as it is called has always suffered from one major problem: capital. Graduates are keen to get their business working, to do what they have trained to do. But they haven’t earned money when training and rarely have capital of their own; start-up costs what they haven’t got. How to solve the first problem that derails so many before they have even begun?

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is p1220112.jpg — Opiyo Benson in font of his new workplace in Koch Goma

Free Money?

In the past, donors gave out boxes of tools or cash to get things going. Perhaps surprisingly, free stuff didn’t help, far from it. These gifts distorted training before it even began. The first question would-be trainees asked was: what tools are you going to give me? how much money will I get? The gift became the goal, not the training or the aim of a sustainable life. That expectation ruined so many vocational training enterprises; no one values free money. And, anyway, most free tools were sold or stolen with days. Some cash also went to thieves or debts or parties, the vulnerable were preyed on by the powerful; very little went to the new business.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is p1220129.jpg — Bob Gumakiriza now working at Niange Ber Motorcycle Repair in Koch Goma

The Revolving Loan Scheme

The solution Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU), who run the VPlus programme, has come up with is innovative: the Revolving Loan Scheme. It depends, as schemes in this context should if they are to last, on strong connections with family and the community. Learning from the first VPlus cohort, GDPU deliberately built good bonds with families in the second cohort.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 20220801_1053441.jpg — Apiyo Miriam’s Sweater Weaving Group

How the Scheme Works

In essence, and all participants are told this right from the beginning, they will have to contribute themselves. The trainee or more likely, parents, the community or both will part fund their graduates’ start-up costs. The rest of the start-up money comes from a ring fenced fund set up by GDPU and financed by ETC of PWD.

Akello Fiona hairdresser working on a customers hair

The Importance of the Plan

For example, a group of graduates want to buy a knitting machine for a sweater weaving business. Those graduates will have costed their needs while drawing up a business plan during training. That plan will be the basis of their loan application. The amount to be borrowed, payback terms, the parental/ community contribution and involvement will have been discussed with all concerned, at some length and formally agreed. After the loan terms are agreed and the matching fund is in, GDPU will buy the right machine at a good discount from their suppliers in Kampala (guaranteeing quality and supply etc).

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 20220802_1230141.jpg — Sweater Weaving Group in Anaka

Tweaking the Scheme

At each subsequent Post Training Support visit, staff from GDPU will also look at the graduates record books (training in bookkeeping etc is of course part of the training). But, the actual financial process is now handled by the VPlus/ GDPU accountant, rather than PTS staff. It was found that graduates feared staff would demand money rather than give support, so graduates refused to be contacted. Separating out support from loans has now removed that problem. GDPU has also reformed repayment schedules, making them flexible according to income and circumstance as recorded by each graduate in their all important record books.

Revolving?

What is also new, is that participants know from the start that the repaid loan is not returned to ETC or GDPU. This money goes into a separate account, used for the next graduate loan. It becomes a growing capital fund for the disability community. Parents and graduates are reminded that repaid loans help their community and the next person down the line; this seems to help repayment. Second cohort parents are far more keen to support and keep their children working, after all their income goes toward paying the loan. GDPU has even started training family members in core skills, so they can keep enterprises going when graduates health and disability makes work difficult.

VPlus Guidance Counsellor, Okello Emma, on a Post Training Support visit to graduates in Odek

Is it Working?

Early reports look good, the money is being returned. Already graduates from the earlier etc@gdpu programme are setting up their own access to the scheme, others we hope will follow if the scheme can be kept running.

A revolving loan indeed.

Want to Know More?

If you would like to know more about the ETC of PWD charity please go to our Home page.

If you would like to give something, please go to our Donate page.

If you would like to know more about Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) please go to their website or Facebook page.

Many Thanks.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image.png

This project is match funded with UK aid from the British people

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-1.png

Disability, GDPU, Gulu, UK Aid, Vocational Training

Field trips and the future: ETC of PWD trustees visit to Gulu and beyond

Buying from the Design and Decoration graduates at Graduation Day

Cohort 1 of the VPlus programme graduated in December 2021, they have been at work ever since. So, August 22 was a good time to visit past graduates, learn how they were getting on, what extra training and support they needed and how future programmes should be adapted.

Developments

The growing quality of the training at Gulu Disabled Persons Union, (GDPU) and greater ambition amongst graduates, has expanded the range of Post Training Support. Extra training demands have moved far beyond the usual literacy, numeracy and record keeping. IT, getting involved with social media as part of the selling process or access to new information, featured heavily in our Post Training Support visits.

But, context matters. Contrast the ways in which three graduates work and sell their goods.

Apiyo Miriam

Apiyo Miriam works with Sweater Weaving groups in Gulu town: ‘Disabled Youth Living Enterprise Group Sweater Knitting’ and ‘Waneno Anyim Sweater Knitting’. They have a smart shop and a growing selection of knitting and sewing machines. Miriam’s record keeping and leadership, in this or any other context, is extraordinarily good.

Miriam with her book keeping records and graduation photo

She is very proactive, seeking out knitting contracts from local schools and individuals; the group is busy. But, as she says the future of selling is on the internet, and that was the training she needed. How to access and use, probably Facebook, to sell their goods across Uganda, certainly. But Miriam’s ambition is much wider, she realises that the West will pay much more for goods made by groups like hers and she wants to know how to do it.

Akello Brenda

Akello Brenda has sickle cell, and lives with her parents out beyond Unyama traiding centre, five kilometres north east of Gulu. Brenda trained on the Design and Decoration course and makes baskets and jewellery. Every month she takes her baskets etc on a boda (motorbike taxi) out to an auction, one of the large markets that visit outlying trading centres. She will set a blanket on the ground and sell what she can. Last months auction was disturbed by the rain and she sold nothing.

There is nowhere to set up shop around her family compound, although she sometimes sell to people who use the path leading to the centre. It was noticeable how proud her mother was of her child, and how much she wanted to help, buying materials for example. A shop in Unyama might be one possibility, although it is doubtful that returns would cover the rent. But, during Cohort 2, the GDPU Design and Decoration instructor dropped out and Brenda took over, successfully. Most instructors balance making and selling with teaching, it could be a model for her too. Past graduates have already become good instructors at GDPU, eg Aciro Brenda who helped set up the new tailoring course.

A range of Design and Decoration Goods on show at Graduation

Akello Brenda also asked for training in making more complex, and fashionable jewellery, which she knows will sell well. This is where the internet could help her; You Tube videos perhaps? Access to them is tricky without a smartphone, she would probably have to come into GDPU for that. Diversity will be the key for her, she is also a very good traditional dancer

Odong Haron Bob

We travelled to Lira, a town similar to Gulu, some 130 or so kilometres to the south east. Odong Haron Bob, an albino, trained in electronics and has a good placement with an extremely entrepreneurial man near the centre. Bob was being trained thoroughly, on more IT kit than I have seen outside Kampala.

Musema Faruk with a member of Gulu PWD Electronics in Gulu Main Market recently

The contrast between this set up and the Gulu PWD electronics group we have been visiting in Gulu Main Market since 2017 was significant. Gulu PWDs have not moved beyond basic feature phones, have little IT experience and after many years have still not put up a sign advertising their business. But, they are significant sportsmen, up to Olympic standard, have genuine political ambitions, likely to be realised and are great company.

Haroon Bob and other Cohort 1 trainees at GDPU

Meanwhile in Lira, all the relevant software was there: several laptops; basic coding; everything you need for modern IT work and Bob was learning it all. There is a well known saying here, “Lira is for business and Gulu is for party”, but there is more to it than that. Gulu PWDs trained in 2014-5 when aspirations were lower, less kit was available and community involvement less significant. For example, Bob’s family helped to place him with this business. The serious development of the ‘Plus’ element in the training that GDPU provides must be part of the solution too.

Back to GDPU

It was with thoughts like these that we returned to our meetings at GDPU. we would consider where the VPlus training programme had led and what should be the future path for training young people with disabilities in Gulu and surrounding districts. See the next blog for more.

Diversity and Music

Odong Sunday plays his music at Cohort 2 Graduation Day

Thinking of the diversity many VPlus graduates use to become self supporting This video, taken during the Cohort 2 graduation at GDPU, shows Odong Sunday and his group playing one of his songs. He has already recorded a more contemporary song that is getting attention, he has many more and appealed for funds to pay for more recording. The Deputy Mayor no less, put forward a significant sum, she knew real talent when she heard it. The role of music and music technology (performed, recorded and sold) in skills training became a significant talking point in our subsequent meeting at GDPU, see the next blog for more.

Want to Know More?

If you would like to know more about the ETC of PWD charity please go to our Home page. If you would like to give something, please go to our Donate page. If you would like to know more about Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) please go to their website or Facebook page.

Many Thanks.

This programme is funded by aid from the British people

Disability, GDPU, UK Aid, Vocational Training

VPlus Cohort 2 Graduation

Running to get the graduation certificate

This graduation was the second joyous celebration of the achievements of youth with disability in Gulu and surrounding districts of Northern Uganda.

The rains had begun earlier in the week, but luckily, they held off for most of the occasion. Allowing the speeches, traditional dance and display of goods and skills to take place. Gulu Disabled Persons Union, our delivery partner, organised the day very well and many important local people were there.

Motorcycle repair graduate explaining his new skills. Note the Gulu City District Education Officer behind and the Sign Language Interpreter in front

Ability in Disability

The attendance by dignitaries, and the subsequent affirmation of people with disabilities, matters a great deal in this context. The theme for the day was ‘ability in disability’ and it was interesting to note how many of the speeches described the speakers own involvement with disability, through perhaps a child, a sibling or training. It was a day that highlighted the inclusivity that will be crucial for the future lives of those graduating.

Vplus trainees march out to present themselves to visitors, honoured guests, friends and families. The Deputy Mayor is clapping along

GDPU Success

It was also the first time in over two and a half years that the ETC of PWD trustees could get to Gulu, it was wonderful to be back, and in time for such an important occasion. It was also important to have the chance to publicly applaud the success of GDPU, in particular the work of Ojok Patrick GDPU Centre Co Ordinator and Musema Faruk, VPlus programme manager (and now Head Teacher at GDPU). Their efforts have been boosted been by Ajok Emma, Guidance Counsellor and Mary Paul Lakot, Accounts Manager. It is their integrity, dedication and endless hours of work throughout Pandemics, Lockdowns and every other sort of challenge that has delivered the change to the disabled community in Gulu. Not forgetting of course the crucial role of the highly committed team of instructors and support staff.

Running to get the graduation certificate, with family and instructors

Parental Involvement

The first cohort of the VPlus programme was older than the second and parental/ community involvement had not been so strong. This gap was identified in Reflection Meetings and for the second cohort Faruk and the team tried hard to get greater involvement. Parental attendance at their graduation was much higher this time and support for trainees more noticeable. It is a pre-condition of the course that trainees come with at least some tools for their training, supplied by parents. To qualify for the VPlus Revolving Loan Scheme, that helps start up new businesses post training, parents also have to contribute. Faruk reports that parents have been far more willing to give something and much more involved in the training programme this time around; a big step forward.

Joy

The usual bandwidth problems prevented us livestreaming the graduation, but I hope these images and video give some flavour of the joy with which parents, family and friends greeted the public recognition of the graduates (or graduands as they are called here).

Buying from the Design and Decoration graduates

Setting out their stall

The stalls with goods made by trainees were busy, selling clothes from the new tailoring course, jumpers, scarves from the sweater weavers, bags, jewelry and more from the new Design and Decoration course. The motorcycle repair graduates talked everyone through their new skills and the electronics graduates offered to mend everyone’s phones; there were many takers for that.

Continued Support

The genuine interest and buying of goods was a great start to their new careers, but we know that continued support is vital to any long term success and sustainability. The next phase of the VPlus programme for Cohort 2 is six months post training support for all these new businesses. But, as the training part of this programme draws to an end, and as our field trips to Cohort 1 graduates showed, there are many questions to ask and answer about the future for ETC and GDPU. For those questions and some possible answers please see the next blog.

Want to Know More?

Many Thanks.