Empowering Youth for the Future: St. Joseph VTC Kamuli Hosts Two-Day Business and Life Skills Bootcamp

On 26th and 27th September 2025, St. Joseph Vocational Training Centre (VTC) Kamuli, one of the Don Bosco TVETs, became a hub of energy, innovation, and inspiration as students and instructors participated in a transformative Business and Life Skills Bootcamp. The training was conducted by Sendea Institute for Energy and Management, a partner to the Gender Matters for Green TVET Project, with support from the Austrian Development Cooperation, Jugend Eine Welt, and the Planning and Development Office.

The bootcamp targeted second-year students and their instructors from the priority courses of Solar, Electrical, Plumbing, and Agriculture, aiming to complement their technical skills with vital entrepreneurial and employability competencies.

Building skills beyond the classroom

The two-day program was designed to challenge students to think beyond the technical skills they acquire in workshops and classrooms. The sessions encouraged them to envision themselves not only as job seekers but also as future employers, innovators, and agents of change in their communities.

Topics explored included:

• Self-analysis for skills development and employment, enabling participants to assess their strengths and opportunities.
• Masterclass: How to start and manage a successful business, giving practical steps toward launching sustainable enterprises.
• Marketing and sales strategies, with a focus on customer engagement and competitiveness.
• Customer care, highlighting the value of professionalism and service excellence.
• Financial literacy, using interactive approaches like the Pesa Smart game-based learning, alongside lessons in financial planning, raising capital, financial management, and bookkeeping.
• Job readiness, equipping students with life skills, CV writing techniques, and mindset-shifting motivation to prepare for the world of work.

Learning by Doing: Business Pitches

One of the most exciting moments of the bootcamp was when students were tasked to pitch their business ideas using a pitch deck. This exercise gave them a real-life simulation of what it means to convince investors, partners, or customers of the viability of their ideas. It was a moment of creativity, courage, and teamwork, as students demonstrated their ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and innovate.

Celebrating Achievement

The bootcamp closed with a certificate awarding ceremony, presided over by the Principal of St. Joseph VTC Kamuli and witnessed by the Gender Officer and Job Service Officer. The ceremony was more than a formality. It was a recognition of effort, participation, and the transformative journey the students had undertaken in just two days.

The principal commended the students for their enthusiasm and commitment, while Sendea partner expressed their confidence that the skills gained would prepare the youth not only for employment but also for leadership in green practices and sustainable livelihoods.

A vote of thanks

In his closing remarks, the Principal, Fr. Cat Nguyen Joseph of St. Joseph VTC Kamuli expressed heartfelt gratitude to the donors – Austrian Development Cooperation and Jugend Eine Welt for their unwavering support to the Gender Matters for Green TVET project. He also acknowledged the technical guidance of the Planning and Development Office and the expert facilitation of Sendea Institute for Energy and Management.

Looking Ahead

This bootcamp marked more than just a training event.  It was an investment in the future of young people. By integrating life skills, entrepreneurship, and job readiness into technical education, St. Joseph VTC Kamuli reaffirmed its commitment to producing graduates who are skilled, employable, and entrepreneurial.

As the certificates were handed out and applause filled the room, one thing was clear: the journey of these students toward becoming resilient professionals and changemakers had only just begun.

This bootcamp was made possible with funding from Austrian Development Cooperation and Jugend Eine Welt which is part of a larger programme GENDER MATTERS for GREEN TVET that is running in 5 Don Bosco TVET Centres in Rwanda and Uganda.