Africa-Press – Uganda. Even with the coming of Universal Primary Education, many people remained illiterate in Kamuli, most of them victims of social inhibition factors, age, and women.
The young girls who attempted enrolling dropped out of school and are young mothers now gathered into a social local village savings association where they rely on the few leaders to thumbprint for their deposits and loans, which figures they know orally.
The Vine Uganda, through its community development program, identified these gaps and introduced them to Functional Adult Literacy classes and hands-on skills.
Speaking at The Vine’s 6th graduation ceremony, where 170 Functional Adult Literacy learners and 7 women graduated in tailoring this morning, Gari Meacham, the President of The Vine, said with God everything is possible and the graduates have proven that with faith and endurance, the impossible becomes real.
Meacham underscored the value of literacy and knowledge now that they can run away from thumb printing, being cheated off figures, agreements, and documentation, and challenged the graduates to support their families and communities better.
“Literacy brings dignity, unlocks a world of knowledge and helps you to be treated fairly, and today by God’s providence and grace we honor you with both respect and celebration,” she lauded.
Meacham called for discipleship to take salvation to maturity by bringing the hope of Christ to every soul touched “and in return for this given gift, give it back to God.”
Richard Mwogereze, the Executive Director of The Vine Uganda, assured that with practical hands-on training, assessments, and real-life projects, they have been able to instill competences to make their students relevant in the communities. He said the skills project is to provide education for life so as to accelerate sustainable development and transformation in communities.
He urged the graduates to live by the organisation’s vision, ideals, and focus, saying their completion is a major step towards personal and community transformation.
“The Vine Uganda welcomes you to learn and ushers you to the world of work to serve. Be different and bound by our core values of ‘to love God, knowledge to change the world.’ Integrity, spirituality, and morality will draw customers to you,” Mwogereze charged.
Vero Mirembe, who was the best tailoring student, revealed that The Vine “rescued” many young girls and mothers from despair, and with skills acquired, they will be able to support themselves, at last have dignity, be economically liberated, and changed for the better.
“The Vine has lifted many young girls and mothers, given us hope filled with faith, and in God’s trust we shall bear the much-valued fruits in His Glory,” she said after receiving her start-up sewing machine and kit.
Kamuli District Chairperson Maxwell Kuwembula, in his speech delivered by his Vice Chairperson Sarah Sambya, emphasised that the economy is changing from a job to a skills economy, so without skills, no job—as envisaged by the Skilling Uganda system and innovative approaches through hands-on training to curb unemployment and increase household incomes.
The LCV said The Vine was spot on in its skilling aspect because equality and affirmative action for women and youth can best be achieved through honest work and self-employment, as the government is short of jobs.
“Go to the field, build trust through timely and quality delivery, but also be innovative—go an extra mile to add value to your work,” he advised.
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