Youth Mentorship in Uganda

“Your life can only be changed by your own positive thinking”

Stephen Arinitwe, 20 years old,

Young Entrepreneur and UBC host

They say, “It does not matter how tall your grandfather was, you’ve got to do your own growing”.

It is easy to believe that you will always stand in the shadows of others once you are still young, with the hope of being hidden and protected, but once the light intensifies, you begin to get exposed! Little children must always develop into young adults and that's the magic of life. The young person in Uganda is at the verge of falling far apart unless he/she decides to anchor onto the words of great philosophers, wise men, entrepreneurs, presidents, CEOs, name it, to develop. 

At PEDN, we believe in the exploitation of young people's potential through engagement in practical based learning. Mentor-ship is one of the ways we do this. We identify mentors in the different sectors of Uganda's economy, approach them and invite them to mentor our project beneficiaries in schools and communities. This is the reason for the increase in child based enterprises and initiatives in our projects.

The youth are able to learn from the different experiences of professionals and go ahead to be inspired to pursue these life changing careers in their future.  

ACTIVITY: GET A MENTOR

Step One: What is your passion in life? Make sure it is realistic and achievable

Step Two: Who do you want to be like?

Step Three: Is he/she available for a talk with you? If yes, simply go and tell them how you admire their career or personal life. If no, look around for someone like your dream mentor.

Step Four: If you have identified them, it is only imperative that you look up their phone number, make an appointment to see them and ask them for a mentor-ship relationship.

Step Five: If they have accepted, thank them and keep observing the schedule they give you for visits. You will find it beneficial interacting with your mentor!

Think away!

“As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, think big.”
Donald Trump

Imagine the thousands of shillings you could be saving when you decide to make a budget. Are you that kind of person that spends aimlessly without caring what the future holds? In case you pass next to a supermarket, you are easily tempted to go buy yourself an expensive jacket, yet your child’s fees are due… 

You easily buy a ticket into one of those music launches; you go to the ATM every time unnecessarily… Are you paying for any services you aren’t using? Or simply services you actually don’t need? Well the more time you spend in thinking about how to better utilize your hard earned moneys, the better you will become!

Is it worth it to take a few minutes to think big and then follow through? Yes!

"I may splurge on real estate, but I’m quite modest when it comes to everyday spending. When I buy clothes, I buy pieces I can wear at least three different ways. I avoid using a stylist, who costs a fortune, and do my own hair and makeup, even when I’m attending the Academy Awards."

Jane Seymour

How we spend our money isn’t about how much money we have. As a successful actress, author and businesswoman, Jane Seymour could easily afford the luxury of having her hair and make-up done by professionals, but that doesn’t fit her priorities and values so she makes other choices.

When she was forty, her life seemed to fall apart. “I lost my father to cancer; I lost my husband to many other women; I lost all my money to my ex-husband’s poor choices; and I lost complete faith in ever being happy again.” Bankrupt and alone she decided she didn’t have to prove herself to anyone anymore and began to take charge of her life.

Now that her life is back on track, do you think she is cheap for doing her own hair and make-up, or do you respect her for the choices she has made to use her money to invest in real estate and give generously to many charities?

Make sure your day-to-day spending choices fit your values and allow the choices to invest and save for the future.

Adopted from www.InspiredSavings.com

Endurance is key to success

Try something eight times before you give up.

Gretchen Rubin

author of The Happiness Project

Endurance is a game not for quitters but strong folks, who are determined to pursue visions and get results. Many a youth start up ventures and their wildest thoughts tell them, that it might not be successful. Sleepless nights they take, wondering how to go about the situation, but understanding that all is in control is important to keep up with the times. Frustration may be a part of the game, but it does not completely ail one’s capability.

PEDN and Youth Clubs in Uganda – Giving Youth early hands-on Practical Education

Pupils of Kiswa Primary School in Kampala saving at school in their club

“The weekly youth sessions we hold in schools may last two hours but the effect they have on youth lifestyles is as solid as rock, that youth can never stay the same for the rest of their lives”, says Irene Mutumba – Executive Director – Private Education Development Network (PEDN). And who dares to object the words of a lady that has seen over 400,000 youth in over 280 Ugandan schools get transformed by the hourly enterprise, business and financial education sessions over the last nine years! No one!

According to Uganda’s National Household Survey (2005/06), unemployment and underemployment rates account for 14% of the labour force. The labour market requires creation of about 390,000 jobs annually to satisfy the young labour force coming from population growth only.
PEDN is absorbing these challenges by offering youth free lessons on how to earn, save, spend and invest money wisely through relevant and practical activities. By giving youth such opportunities they access business leaders and innovators; acquire applicable information on personal finance and practical lessons on how to start and sustain a business enterprise.

In Uganda, availability of and access to safe and sound financial services is still a constraint manifested in form of insufficient financial services across the country. For instance, as manifested in Uganda’s current National Development plan, only 23 districts in Uganda have commercial banks with the number of bank accounts at about five (5) million, representing a 16% population penetration.
By facilitating youth savings PEDN has helped over 10,730 youth every year access financial and entrepreneurship education with half that number raising annual average savings of over 11 million Uganda shillings. It is such savings behaviour that has helped youth in eleven Ugandan districts reduce family expenditure on their schooling and increase their saving culture.

PEDN and its partnering schools are leading efforts to enhance early youth enterprise culture, encouraging youth to participate in their country’s development. Starting with the rural enterprises initiative in eastern Uganda, over 4,236 home-based micro enterprises have been initiated by young people involving growing of fruit trees and rearing chicken. Parents set aside a chick that a child would then be responsible for, and land where children planted a fruit tree like oranges. In the process, youth have learnt communication and marketing skills, business idea generation, networking, and competitiveness, the set of skills required in the job sector today.

Agnes (not real name), is from Kamuli district and shares her joy from one of PEDN’s programs. She says she has “realized that saving is a good thing and that a child in primary school can save. You don’t have to save much. Consistency is the trick. When I get back my savings I shall buy four more chicks... and continue saving to make my poultry farm bigger”.

PEDN believes that to address unemployment in Uganda requires moving beyond just teaching youth about enterprise into changing the way learning is done in schools. PEDN’s efforts have led to a marriage with National Curriculum Development Center (NCDC) to support practical curriculum integration and improve learning outcomes. Ms. Grace Baguma the Deputy Director of NCDC says, “children are cramming things and when they get out of school they can’t do anything... theoretical teaching has killed education, the content would be good if taught the right way...teachers have resorted to the methods they use and ignored others because of class numbers”

Ms. Baguma says government alone cannot enhance quality education without the private sector. She says it’s such programs that change the thinking, orientation and mentality of children when they are still young. She says emphasis on practical elements is what PEDN brings on board and they welcome and will continue technically supporting these initiatives, and try to make an effort to mainstream them in the education system in the long run. This is the pride of PEDN and value of its daily efforts as a non-governmental organisation as youth start early and succeed young.

Pupils of St.James Bbiina Primary School in Kampala making beads

FINANCIAL EDUCATION IN UGANDA– GATHERING STORIES MAKING HEADLINES IN SCHOOLS

“Our efforts, Uganda’s transformation”

During the end of last year 2011, Citi’s Executive Director Ms. Rita Balaka affirmed that the Aflateen Youth social and financial education program can front innovations in Financial Empowerment and through its work with the local non-governmental organisation - Private Education Development Network (PEDN) Citi intends to further demonstrate the power of public-private sector partnerships.

Fast forward, it’s a year now and this partnership has unearthed and unlocked the social and financial potential of Uganda youth. It’s Citi’s desire to increase the number of low - to moderate-income youth and their families who adopt positive financial behaviors and accumulate and preserve financial assets.

The ripple effect that the Aflateen has had on youth and family livelihoods affirms this anticipation. This is what students like Joana (Not real name), make of their engagement in Aflateen. She says, “Before I joined Aflateen I wasn’t saving but now I save in our School saving box because Aflateen has brought saving in our school. I now know how to save and handle money. With the knowledge I have now I advise my mother in her retail shop business…” 

Financial capability may be deficient if not matched with relevant business and social entrepreneurial agility. Put together, this dexterity can create youth financial sustainability. Aflateen has given youth an appropriate learning environment to challenge the vivid lack of financial education in schools, teaching them the discipline of saving and responsible spending in the right mix of learning about self and social justice and how all this plays to influence youth leadership, career and business orientation.

Fred (not real name), an Aflateen student says “I am now an Aflateen Club President and now know my strengths, weaknesses and most importantly, how to set goals. My saving goal is to buy a laptop and I already have saved a quarter of the money I need. I was taught how make paper bags and realize there is market for it in my area. Aflateen is shaping my future….I expect to achieve my goals.

It is such evidence that demonstrates the value that Citi and PEDN are adding to Uganda’s economic development and PEDN’s intent is to continue expanding this country wide. So far, over 90 schools in Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono and Luweero districts have benefitted from these financial education initiatives. According to Ms. Irene Mutumba (PEDN’s Executive Director), PEDN’s intention is to consolidate, strengthen and expand the program in Uganda in order to reach more youth and inspire them to be agents of change in their communities.

Aflateen is a social and financial education program for youth 14-19 years implemented as part of a global brand in over 80 countries worldwide. The model helps youth reflect, understand and practice values of self, family, community responsibility, money, savings, spending, and financial and social business and increase their enthusiasm in keeping these skills as part of their lifetime culture.