Empowering Futures: St. Joseph Vocational Training Centre Kamuli and Junior Achievement Uganda Collaborate on Gender Matters for Green TVET Program

On 6^th/03/2025, a comprehensive Training of Trainers (TOT) program and Boot camp for the students was conducted by Junior Achievement Uganda at St. Joseph VTC  Kamuli, empowering 22 instructors with vital business skills and how to promote career path ways and professional development. The dynamic team of instructors, comprising 12 female and 10 male, actively participated in the engaging sessions, which covered aptitude tests, design thinking, and the pivotal role of instructors.

The TOT program aimed to enhance the instructors’ capabilities in imparting business skills to their students, fostering a competitive edge in the ever-evolving corporate landscape. The training sessions were designed to equip the instructors with the latest tools, techniques, and best practices in business training.

The instructors learned how to manage stress through different ways and providing constructive feedback to students. In addition, they discovered how to integrate design thinking into their teaching methodologies, encouraging students to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. Instructors were also inspired to think outside the box and cultivate a culture of creativity and innovation.

They also explored strategies for creating a supportive learning environment, providing constructive feedback, and fostering a growth mind-set in their students. This reinforced the importance of instructors as facilitators, mentors, and role models in the learning process.

Junior Achievement Uganda Empowers Learners with Business Skills training:

From March 6^th to 7^th, 2025, Junior Achievement Uganda hosted a two-day business skills boot camp for the students at the Institute’s Main Hall. The engaging and interactive training sessions equipped participants with essential entrepreneurship skills, design thinking, and problem-solving strategies.

The Facilitators led by Geoffrey from Junior Achievement Uganda began by introducing Junior Achievement Uganda and its mission to empower young people with entrepreneurial skills and knowledge in the DBTVET Centres. They explained the concept of entrepreneurship, highlighting its importance in creating jobs, driving economic growth, and improving livelihoods of the youth. The participants were then taken through a series of interactive activities, designed to help them understand the basics of entrepreneurship and identify potential business opportunities.

On the second day of the boot camp, the facilitators went deeper into design thinking, a creative problem-solving approach that emphasizes empathy, ideation, resource mobilization, leadership skills, market research, piloting and implementation. The participants learned how to identify problems and needs within their communities, brainstorm innovative solutions, and develop business ideas. Through group work and presentations, the participants showcased their understanding of design thinking and its application in entrepreneurship.

The boot camp culminated in the formation of 11 business companies as per their departments, each comprising a team of participants headed by a team leader and other executive committee members.

These companies presented their business ideas, demonstrating a remarkable understanding of entrepreneurship, design thinking, and problem-solving. The trainers provided constructive feedback, encouraging the participants to refine their ideas and pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations.

The boot camp witnessed impressive participation and engagement from the learners. On Day One had 123 participants (54 females & 69 males) while Day Two had 144 participants (62 female and 82 male). The Facilitators created a supportive and inclusive environment, fostering collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking among the participants (students).

The business skills boot camp was a resounding success, empowering learners with essential entrepreneurship skills, design thinking, and problem-solving strategies. The formation of 11 business companies demonstrated the participants’ ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems. As these young entrepreneurs embark on their business journeys, Gender Matters for Green TVET and Junior Achievement Uganda remain committed to supporting and guide the young generation towards success in the competitive labor market.

Thanks to our development partners Jugend Eine Welt and Austrian Development Cooperation for the financial support. This is under the program Gender Matters for Green TVET, a four years program from 2023 to 2026 being implemented in five Don Bosco TVET Centres in Uganda and Rwanda.