Bridging the Gap: Don Bosco Bombo Trainees Empowered at “Gender Matters for Green TVET” Bootcamp by SENDEA

BOMBO, LUWERO – Between April 9th and 10th, 2026, the serene environment of Life Homes Kikandaga was transformed into a centre of professional growth for graduating students of Don Bosco Vocational Training Centre (VTC) Bombo. The intensive two-day “Gender Matters for Green TVET” Bootcamp was designed with a vital purpose: to equip technical trainees with the essential “professional fuel” needed to convert their workshop skills into sustainable, long-term careers.

The event saw a strong turnout, with 67 participants on Day One (45 male, 22 female) and 64 on Day Two, all focused on navigating the critical transition from student life to professional employment or entrepreneurship.

A Vision for Sustainable Livelihoods

The Bootcamp was officially opened by Mr. Egesa Stephen, the Job Service Officer (JSO), who challenged participants to look beyond their technical certificates. In his opening remarks, he emphasized that technical mastery is only the beginning of the journey toward success.

“The technical skill you have in your hands is the engine, but the knowledge you will receive here is the fuel,” Mr. Egesa noted. “Without the right mindset and transition skills, even the best Electrician, Tailor, Plumer or Builder can struggle to find consistent work.”

He urged the students to bridge the gap between “knowing a skill” and “making a living,” focusing on mindset transformation, job readiness, and the power of professional networking.

Comprehensive Training Modules

The program was delivered by a dedicated team of experts. Under the guidance of Ms. Nalubega Phionah (Programs Officer, SENDEA) and Mr. Madrama Denis (Business Development, SENDEA), trainers Mr. Ategeka Marvin and Ms. Atuyambe Eve led the participants through five essential pillars:

1. Self-Analysis and Skill Development: Identifying personal strengths and professional areas for growth.
2. Business Management & Principles: Mastering the foundations of running a successful enterprise.
3. Marketing & Sales Strategies: Learning how to effectively position services in a competitive market.
4. Life & Soft Skills: Focusing on interpersonal communication, work ethics, and professionalism.
5. Resourceful Entrepreneurship: Practical steps to starting a business using locally available resources.

Insights from Leadership

The Deputy Principal, Mr. Ajena Amulam, also graced the event, encouraging students to remain disciplined and stick to the camp’s core purpose. In his closing remarks on the second day, he shared a profound framework for self-reflection, defining the four categories of competence that every participant must navigate:

• Consciously Competent
• Unconsciously Competent
• Consciously Incompetent
• Unconsciously Incompetent

He challenged the trainees to leave the Bootcamp with a significantly higher level of self-awareness and professional drive than when they first arrived.

A Partnership for the Future

This initiative is a cornerstone of the broader Gender Matters for Green TVET programme—a four-year initiative (2023–2026) currently implemented across five Don Bosco TVET Centres in Uganda and Rwanda.

The successful execution of the bootcamp was made possible through the partnership between Don Bosco VTC Bombo and SENDEA Uganda, with generous funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation and Jugend Eine Welt.

The event concluded on a high note with the awarding of certificates to all participants, marking not just the end of a training session, but the beginning of their journey into the professional world. As these graduates return to their communities, they do so not just as technicians, but as visionary professionals ready to contribute to a greener, more sustainable economy.