From right to left Jacob, Daniel and Samuel working as a group is a grate assets for their success. Gulu, Uganda
Jacob left lives with his extended family and five siblings in Gulu, Northern Uganda bordering lango region. He was enrolled in Child-Fund Sponsorship Program in the early 2000.
He remembers his father saying “little was known about our family, that lived without less to offer before being enrolled to sponsorship program by Child Fund”
Jacob remembers how difficult it was growing up in an extended home of three wives that his father married. Each of them had their own field to cultivate, although the land is the property of their father according to Luo culture, “my mother couldn’t decide quite independently what to do in her field, this often affected the household food security and access to basic needs since they hardly attended school three days in a week just to provide family labor, they grew food crops like simsim, potatoes, cassava and millet.
“Going through formal education system was every child’s wish and dream in my community, we admired professions like doctors, teachers, police officers etc.” said Jacob. In 2016 Jacob had finished his primary leaving examination within a community school in Gulu, results came with excitements and joy since he had done fairly well passing in a strong division two level, just like every pupil’s dreams was to join secondary education, his came with sentiments and disappointments because his family was not able to raise money for his studies, rather he was asked to stay home.
In Jan 2020 during a community meeting for enrolled children at Laroo community office, the Community Development Officer at sub-county level through support from Acholi child and Family program conducted career guidance sessions and Jacob was blessed to be among the youth who participated in the session, in May, 2020 opportunities to enrolled youth for skilling course came. Jacob expressed interests and he was identified among the many youths to undergo one-year training in simple engine. “it was a milestone to my dream to continue with my education dream and also be part of change in my community, this came at the time I had no one to look on to, not even my own parents could give me hope” remarked Jacob.
Moreover after training, ACFP through support from Child Fund Uganda supported us with startup tools. Jacob explains thanking ACFP and Child fund for skilling him and the fact that this has improved his skills and economic situation in his family that has not gone unnoticed by other community members: “My neighbours have changed their attitude towards me. They used to underestimate my abilities and I wasn’t perceived as important at all. This has changed. They see that I’m able to earn my own living and can save 10,000-15,000 daily, I’m able to cover medical expenses for my siblings, I have started up my own workshop where I work with fellow youth, I have managed to acquire three goats. They respect me now. For example, fellow youth come to ask me for advice on how they can take part in the in Child-Fund programs,” says Jacob, who is very proud of himself.
Jacob and his friends Daniel, Samuel and Eric have tapped the benefits of group work.
In terms of household dynamics, He explains: “My relationship with my fellow youth has always been quite fine. We haven’t experienced any difficulty working together, but what changed after joining skilling course is that I feel equal. I have my financial resources, and am the one who decides what to do with them. This makes me feel that I am at the same level as my friends who went through formal education and are employed in various offices. Generally, I feel I have more control over my life. I can plan better, and I rely on my own work and things I produce, it gives me more control.” Says Jacob and his friends.
” Jacob hopes that with little investment in livestock like goats, he will be able to support his siblings’ education and health needs”.
Jacob’s hope is alive and his next move is to support fellow youth get into similar trade and create employment.
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