SDKF has a vocational training project providing poor and marginalized youth the chance to learn tailoring skills offering future self sustainability and economic security.

 

Background: SDKF was established in 2003 in the Ugandan capital city of Kampala. The organisations focus is to help poor and marginalized youth gain vocational skills in order to support themselves as well as securing their future economic security and self sustainability.

 

Economic rehabilitation of many of the community’s youth’s is imperative. Due to the AIDS pandemic, many of the youth drop out of school because of the death of their parents in order to support their extended families. In addition, those children from poor backgrounds resort to begging, prostitution and drug abuse in order survive. SDKF offer a vital life line to those that are most in need. The tailoring programme offers youth a realistic chance to ensure economic security and well being. The sewing business is very profitable in Uganda with those employed often in demand to produce both school uniforms and traditional African attire. After completing the training offered by SDKF, 80% of the schemes graduates find themselves in full time employment, often earning more than the average Ugandan daily income.  

 

The skills training project ultimate goal is to produce young adults that are self employed and capable of making an adequate living whilst also contributing to the Ugandan labour market. The cheap cost of the tailoring materials as well as the high demand for tailored goods makes this project extremely sustainable.

 

The Programme: To be admitted into the programme, every beneficiary must be recommended by a local community leader. Once admitted, beneficiaries will receive suitable training; home visits, monitoring and evaluating progress and follow up visits mapping progress.

 

SKDF’s tailoring skills project will benefit 45 people per annum, with 15 young adults receiving vocational training every 4 months. Funding received will not just fund 2 instructors for training but also fund the materials needed to produce the tailored goods. To date, SDKF have trained 540 disadvantaged youth, 75% of whom have been girls.

 

Evaluation: SKDF leadership executive committee holds weekly meetings to monitor the progress of the project and make strategic decisions on the future direction of the project. In addition, the project manager meets with the SDKF director weekly in order to report on and review the progress of the project.