Graduating in Karamoja: Alessandra's Testimony

Below is the testimony of Alessandra Muzzo, a civil service volunteer currently stationed in Moroto, Uganda, with Africa Mission Cooperation and Development (AMCS).

"I recently had the opportunity to attend four graduation ceremonies organized by Africa Mission in various districts of Karamoja, held between the end of July and the beginning of August. These ceremonies marked the completion of a four-month vocational training program, part of the 'Increasing Opportunities for Youth Participation and Empowerment (IOYPE) in Karamoja' project.
This project, which began in January 2023, is funded by the European Union and DANIDA (the Danish International Development Agency) and is implemented by Africa Mission in collaboration with Dan Church Aid (DCA) and Arid Land Development Programme (ADP). As part of this project, Africa Mission has already provided approximately 400 young people in the Karamoja region with vocational training in various fields, including pastry-making, agriculture and horticulture, animal husbandry, tailoring, mechanics, hairdressing, and carpentry."

Graduating in Karamoja

The graduation ceremonies were preceded by lively processions, where students marched from their training centers to the designated celebration locations. The march, accompanied by loud music and infectious energy, certainly captured the attention of bystanders. The ceremonies were attended by numerous government representatives from the various districts of the region, along with delegates from other NGOs active in the area. During the ceremonies, officials frequently congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to apply their newly acquired skills to benefit their communities. Authorities also praised Africa Mission's decades-long work in Karamoja and expressed hopes for future training cycles.

What Stood Out to Me
What struck me most during the four graduation ceremonies were the stories shared by two Africa Mission instructors who spoke at two different ceremonies, offering testimonies of success from the vocational training projects.
The first story is that of Deo, a tailoring instructor for the Moroto district. Orphaned at a young age, Deo moved to Moroto as a child and started living on the streets, surviving by doing small, occasional jobs. In 2021, he was able to join a tailoring course offered by Africa Mission. Today, thanks to his hard work and determination, Deo has opened his own tailoring business at the Moroto market and has also become part of AMCS staff as a tailoring instructor.
The second story is about Nakiru, a former inmate of Moroto prison who underwent a social and economic transformation after gaining access to a hairdressing training course offered by Africa Mission within the prison facility. Since her release, Nakiru has utilized her newly acquired skills by working as a hairdresser in her community and has also become a valuable instructor for the hairdressing courses that Africa Mission continues to offer to inmates at Moroto Prison.

Goal: Learning a Trade
The hope is that the newly graduated students will practice their newly acquired skills as much as possible, transforming them into professions and becoming sources of inspiration for their communities. The Africa Mission team will continue to support the group of young people who have just completed their training and will monitor their progress. Additionally, the NGO will provide the graduates with the necessary equipment to start their own businesses, while also seeking to connect them to various internship and job opportunities within the local economy.