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HOPEHIV's youth worker programme
HOPEHIV launched its brand new Youth Worker Programme at Youthwork the conference in Eastbourne on 20th to 22nd November 2009. Delegates were challenged to turn their youth groups into social enterprises for HOPEHIV, with a little help in the form of professional personal development resources, eMentoring, a CD packed with tools and advice, and a £10 note. Youth workers who successfully complete the programme by 31st March 2010 will be entered into a competition to win a trip to Africa with one of their group members.
At present, the programme is only open to delegates from Youthwork the conference, but we hope to develop it for wider use with all our church partners. If you'd like more information, or if you signed up at the conference but have lost your CD, please contact lindsay@hopehiv.org.
youth in uganda
Young people at HOPEHIV partner project Net2Work in Uganda are sending us weekly posts from January 2010. Working with World Vision rehabilitation centres, Net2Work offers former child soldiers the chance to gain IT skills, making employment and a decent future a reality. The posts below should give you some insight into the type of people your hard-earned profits will be helping. You might like to include the people you hear from and the work of the project in your group prayers. In March, there will be the opportunity to submit your questions to them, so thinking caps on.
week 10 - Net2work team (3)
julius elora
Julius has been running the Net2Work programme in Uganda for the past 6 years and says, 'I struggled to pay for my education on my own even though my father could have afforded it. Today I am the only successful person in our family of 14 siblings. I am now shouldering all the responsibilities of my brothers and sisters. From my experience, I would not want any young person or even my children to be a burden to anybody when they can make it in life. I am actually saddened by those who are let down by the condition of their parents and feel I should do something to reverse this.' |
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1. What benefits does the Net2Work course offer apart from gaining job skills?
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Life skills training creates awareness of health related issues such as HIV/AIDS to our students who are mostly sexually active and vulnerable. They also learn techniques of good decision making. This training increases their self awareness and self esteem which can motivate and help these young people make informed decisions and form healthy relationships as they grow and interact with the community.
Entrepreneurship skills training equips our students with knowledge about how to start and maintain a business and consider possible business ventures that they can start within their localities. As we know that any well managed business will survive and prosper, we encourage our students to take this opportunity and venture out into business.
Research Skills enable our students to appreciate the problems in the community and thereby becoming problem solvers other than creators. During the presentation of their research findings (this is normally before their parents, friends and the whole staff) our students gain confidence to speak in public and air out their views as they answer questions put to them by the audience – some of them for the first time!.
Bible Teachings done before every lesson at devotions time is for the spiritual growth of our students. We bring hope into their lives by bringing them close to God. Some of them get to hear about God for the first time from Net2Work and give their lives to Christ.
Character Development Skills enable our students to appreciate the people in their community and know how to interact, treat and work with them. They get to know that everyone is different, unique, special and should be treated with respect. They also learn that to be respected, you should first respect yourself – and this means avoiding to do or associate yourself with what the community perceives as bad.
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2. What kind of real differences have you seen in young people’s lives as a result of the programme?
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Here are a few examples of young people whose lives have been changed by Net2Work (names have been changed to protect confidentiality):
Joseph whom we recruited into our programme in January 2004 was living on his own and survived by doing odd jobs in the community after loosing both his parents to AIDS. He was surviving on the meals we offered at the project during the training. He took his studies very seriously and benefited from a scholarship that enabled him do a diploma in Information and Systems Management. Today Joseph is working with a reputable IT firm as a Consultant and is financially stable. He is no longer looked upon by the community but highly respected and he is living a fulfilling life and he is a very happy man. Joseph is planning to start up a Secretarial bureau in town.
Sarah who trained with us in May 2004 was living with her mother, who earned money with tailoring, and seven siblings. Sarah had dropped out of school to allow the young ones go to school. When Sarah successfully completed her training, she got a job with a law firm as a Secretary. Because of her good work, the firm sponsored her back to complete her Advanced level education and eventually paid for her university tuition. Sarah graduated with a bachelor degree in Education and today she is teaching in a good school and supporting her mother and siblings with her earnings. Sarah is living a happy life with her family.
Joel whose parents were both killed in the northern war in Gulu and was fending for himself through petty work, started a small retail business in Gulu main market. Because of the entrepreneurship skills learnt, his business expanded and he is doing very well. Joel was also elected by the market traders to be their Secretary, a position that commands a lot of respect and brings him in the spotlight and in direct contact with the Local Government leaders. He is using the character development skills to enable him manage is office effectively.
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3. What do you personally find most rewarding about being involved in the Net2work programme?
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| Net2Work has given me an opportunity to impact positively vulnerable young people’s lives. Seeing students who were begging to survive, depending on other peoples’ moods, having low self esteem, walking barefoot, eating accidentally, having no shelter, exchanging sex for food, putting on rags, written off by the community, transformed to people with smiles and rounded cheeks dressing smartly with high self esteem and commanding respect from the community gives my heart wings to soar higher. Knowing that it is only through Net2Work and my efforts that most of these students have got to know who they are and have managed to live a hope-full life and call me their father assures me for greater rewards from God who has deployed me to work for Him in Net2Work. |
4. What are your hopes for the students you train?
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| My hope for the students we have trained is that since they have been from hopeless lives, they have to change to hopeful lives in the future with the skills given to them and our prayer is that God will work in their lives and they should achieve their dreams by putting the skills in use. |
5. what could the £100 raised by each youth group in our challenge achieve at net2work?
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- £100 can allow one student to start a small business like a fruit grocery, a barber shop or selling airtime cards.
- A refurbished computer set for training which can run Windows XP costs around £125, so £100 is a great start.
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week 8 - Net2work team (2)
patrick pido, 25
My name is Pido Patrick and I am 25 years old. I am a Ugandan by nationality and Acholi by tribe. I come from a family of 10 people where 7 are female and 3 are male and am the last born in our family. I am married to one wife and we have one child that is a baby girl. |
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1. How did you get involved in working for Net2WoRk?
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I started by being a student where I attended the training in the computer, life skills (Character Development) and Job Skills & Entrepreneurship for 6 month. I was then called to work as volunteer in training the students in class which I did for 6 months, then they gave me the confirmation letter to be as a staff at Net2work Gulu eAcademy.
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2. What motivates you in your role at Net2Work?
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| Things that have motivated me in my role at Net2work are knowing Jesus Christ as my personal saviour and working as a team to improve lives of disadvantaged youths like me. |
3. What are your greatest challenges in your job?
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| The simple ones are power interruptions and internet problems. |
4. What are your hopes for the students you train?
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| My hope for the students we have trained is that since they have been from hopeless lives, they have to change to hopeful lives in the future with the skills given to them and our prayer is that God will work in their lives and they should achieve their dreams by putting the skills in use. |
5. why did you choose to do an IT course?
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| I have chosen to do IT course because it is one of my dreams since my primary school because IT can make you get access to a job in any office in Uganda and because the world is now computerized and computer knowledge is a must. |
6. Why do you think it important to have IT skills in Uganda? How will it contribute to the country's future?
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| It’s important to have IT skills in Uganda because it is now helping Uganda in doing business, education and many others to mention but a few so Uganda is now growing from low developed country to developed country. |
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week 8 - I.T. in uganda
wilber kalule, 31
My name is Wilber Kalule and I am 31 years of age. I come from an extended family of ten children, of those I am the first born. I am a Muganda by tribe, a Ugandan by nationality. I studied up to Advanced level and stopped there. I later joined Net2Work as a student in May 2005 where I emerged as the second best boy in that intake. Thereafter I applied to be a volunteer and I was given the opportunity to serve. |
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1. How many people in Uganda have access to computers?
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There are five people out of every 100 people who have access to computers.
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2. Why have you chosen to do an I.T. course (instead of, for example, a carpentry or tailoring course)?
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| There was a vacuum of computer specialists and for most of the jobs advertised in Uganda, computer knowledge is of added advantage. |
3. Why do you think it’s important to have I.T. skills in Uganda? How will it contribute to the country’s future?
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| It will contribute to the country’s future in the way that it will cut down the level of profit repatriation by stopping the importation of computer experts to take up the computer related jobs in Uganda. |
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week 7 - Net2work team
wilber kalule, 31
My name is Wilber Kalule and I am 31 years of age. I come from an extended family of ten children, of those I am the first born. I am a Muganda by tribe, a Ugandan by nationality. I studied up to Advanced level and stopped there. I later joined Net2Work as a student in May 2005 where I emerged as the second best boy in that intake. Thereafter I applied to be a volunteer and I was given the opportunity to serve. |
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1. How did you get involved in working for Net2WoRk?
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I started working with Net2Work after first attending the course as a student there. I was a volunteer for two years before coming on to the staff in July 2007 in Gulu where I became an IT trainer.
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2. What motivates you in your role at Net2Work?
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| Seeing the lives of younger vulnerable youth changing from despair to hope, that is to say some of them going for further studies and accessing jobs. |
3. What are your greatest challenges in your job?
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- Some students dropping out of the course before finishing the course.
- Lacking internet in the lab for the students to practice.
- Sometimes not having power in place for the students to do practicals.
- Sometimes not having enough computers in place for the students to always have every student sitting on a computer for practicals.
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4. What are your hopes for the students you train?
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| To have their standard of living improved through getting jobs and others going for further studies. This should make them useful members of their families and communities. |
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week 6 - faith
Kamakech Geoffrey Okwonga, 22
I am Kamakech Geoffrey Okwonga aged 22 years and a Ugandan by nationality, Acholi by tribe and a true resident of Kati-Kati ‘B’, Palwong parish, Pabbo sub-county, Amuru District. I am from a nuclear family of four members and an orphan having only a mother. My father died in the motor accident in 2000. He was a peasant farmer whereby he couldn’t afford paying my school fees, but God opened for me a way and I have completed Senior Four. The highest level of Education is a certificate in computer from Oasis Net2Work Gulu eAcademy. That’s where I restored hope for my brighter future since I had lost hope for future after completing ordinary level and being unable to continue due to financial problems.
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Are you religious? If so tell us about your church/religious community.
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First of all I’m a strong born again. Our church has a question for all of us: ‘Who are we as the church?’ We are an evangelical non-denominational able church, based on the evangelical truth of the Bible and we find our constitution in the Bible. Our vision is to reach and disciple a community of 50,000 Christians who are mission oriented. Our mission is bring the spiritual/physical transformation to our community through preaching the gospel of faith and works.
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tell us about your church services and activities.
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We meet on Tuesdays from 4:00pm-6:00pm for Bible study in the church, Thursdays from 4:30pm-6:30pm for life group at Kanyagoga ‘A’, Fridaysand Saturdays from 4:00pm-6:30pm for church choir in the church also and on Sundays from 3:30pm-6:00pm.
Fat football club
This is where the youths in the church go to play football and preach through games since many people come to watch the match and some of them also join the team. After playing we usually sit down and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as Bible studies.
Mercy network groups (hospital ministry)
This is where people go to visit the sick in the hospital and pray for them, encouraging them and some of them also receive Jesus Christ as their saviour.
Life groups
This is where we go to the community preaching the gospel and breaking the words of God to the extent that people understand it fully and make people become deeply rooted in the word of God yet others continue receiving Christ as their saviour. We also do Bible study where people can ask questions concerning the Bible.
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Are you involved in any volunteering in your church or community?
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| Yes, I’m volunteering in the life group where we go to the community preaching the word the God to the people, and in the church choir where we praise and worship on Sundays. |
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week 5 - life in the uk
moris ojok, 19
My name is Moris Ojok. I am 19 years old and come from a small family consisting of five children and am the third where we were twins in our family. Unfortunately I lost my father in 1997 in the battlefield: he was taken to command troops of soldiers then by bad luck they entered an ambush of deadly army rebels known as the Lord Resistance Army (L.R.A) and this is how I lost Dad. I am very sorry . My highest level in education I have acquired is P.L.E Slips and a certificate in Computer Training .i.e. from OasisNet2Work Gulu eAcademy.
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What do you think life in the uk is like?
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To my opinion I think life in UK is far much better than that of Uganda due to the following reasons:
- Educational system - In Uganda education is theory based while in UK it is based on both theory and practise.
- Development - UK is more developed than Uganda, because if we look at the standards of living people in UK live a very high standard of living and not only this, infrastructure, manufacturing industries etc makes UK much more developed than Uganda
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beatrice ajok, 19
My name is Ajok Beatrice. I am twenty four years old. I am the first born of eight children in our family of four boys and four girls and we live in Gulu town. I am an Acholi.
What do you think life in the uk is like?
I think life in UK is full of fun, laughter and enjoyment and people understand each other compared to Uganda whereby brothers can fight for their land. |
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week 4 - culture
christine akwero, 20
I am Christine Akweroand I am 20 years old. I am a true resident of Palwo parish, Omiya-Anyima sub-county, Kitgum District. Due to the war, our family decided to shift from Kitgum to Gulu. We are now staying in Aywee village, Tegwana parish, Pece Division, Gulu Municipality. Aywee is located in the southeast of Gulu town.
We are in the family of six members amongst which am the first born of my parents. I was in Gulu Public Primary school from 1995-2001. Due to financial problems I had to join the third developing school that is Gulu Girls’ Secondary School in 2002 but unfortunate the school collapsed in 2005 then I had to transfer to Koch Goma S.S. in 2006 and this is the year I sat my Senior Four exams.
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1. What sort of music do you enjoy listening to?
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I enjoy listening to traditional music and worship songs, for example 'God is able'.
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2. what sort of clothes do you like to wear?
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I would like to wear blouses, T-shirt and a long skirts because this one with make me look decent in the community.
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3. Who do you most admire? Any icons/heroes?
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I most admire the current president of U.S.A His Excellency BARACK OBAMA.
I also most admire the former president of South Africa NELSON MANDELA. |
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week 3 - free time
nelson okello, 17
I am Nelson Okello, Ugandan by nationality, aged 17 years. I am the second born in our family of seven. Unfortunately my parents are dead. I am staying with my mother’s sister who is old and HIV positive with six children to care for. Due to all that, she wants to sell her land in order to look after us.
With support from Oasis Uganda, Gulu eAcademy my life is changing, not only with computer skills but with life skills and character development. The course has helped me to know that there is God and both my self, our family lifestyle and my dear fellow friends. |
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1. When you’re not working, studying or doing housework what do you enjoy doing?
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I always like playing football, singing (my favourite song is 'Long distance, this world is not my home'), watching dancing like traditional and international dance, and I like visiting some friends around and creating personal relationships with them, helping family members, relaxing my mind, advising and promoting peace in the community.
I render voluntary service like teaching and reading bible. As pertaining my interests, they are computing, working with my children, reading and giving advice to my fellow friends how to behave and what would they be in future.
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2. what do you and your friends enjoy doing together?
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When I am together with my friends we always like enjoying promoting development of the individual's personality. Sometimes we feel like advising other fellows not to relieve tension such as drinking, sex, drug abuse because it is harmful to their life as Christians, promoting national unity, personal enjoyment, creating friendship, exploring and learning what is happening in the world, promotion of our culture, promoting spiritual development since we are Christians and promoting peace.
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week 2 - work
innocent derrick olweny, 21
I am called Innocent Derrick Olweny and I am 21 years old. I live in a family of six, three younger sisters, a brother and my mum, who is living with HIV/AIDS. I completed senior six in the year 2007 but because of financial problems, I never continued with further studies until I got the opportunity to study computer skills in Oasis Net2Work Gulu eAcademy. The course gave me a lot of knowledge, not only in computer but also in also other skills like character development, job skills and many others. |
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1. what kind of job do you hope to get after completing the course?
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I would like to become a secretary in order to apply the skills of computer that I got from the centre (Oasis Net2Work Gulu eAcademy).
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2. how do you earn money at the moment?
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With the little capital I saved before coming to do the course, about shs 60,000 ($30) I will continue to buy some goats to slaughter for sale, which I used to do before I came for the course. All the responsibilities are on me since I am the eldest. This is how we have been surviving for the last two years since our Dad died.
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week 1 - daily life
scovia aciro, 20
My name is Scovia Aciro. I am 20 years old. My highest level of education is the certificate I have attained from the computer training i.e. from Oasis Net2work Gulu eAcademy. I come from an extended family of 12 children and I am the seventh child, an Acholi by tribe and a Ugandan by nationality. My mother died when I was ten years old due to HIV/AIDS. My father was killed with my three elder brothers in 2002 after entering an LRA ambush [Lord's Resistance Army, a Ugandan rebel militia]. They were all captured and later slaughtered into pieces. Oh my God, what a miserable death my dad and brothers had! May their souls rest in peace. |
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1. Please tell us about where you live. Did you grow up there?
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Perhaps, yes! I live in a small village called Kanyagoga ‘A’ sub-ward, Bardege division in Gulu Municipality found in Gulu district. It’s located in the southern direction, one kilometer from Gulu town with a population of 12,000 people. I live with my grandparents and nine other orphans.
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2. HOW DO YOU GET TO THE COURSE?
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Actually, I walk to school daily.
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3. WHAT KINDS OF FOOD DO YOU LIKE?
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| I like snacks, malagwang with sweet potatoes, okra, cabbages, lacotocoto and fresh beverages (juices). |
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latest photos
| HOPEHIV would like to thank The Holst Group for providing their professional personal development resources for use in our Youth Worker Programme. Please visit them at www.theholstgroup.co.uk to find out more. |
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We see hope in Jonah.
Jonah lost both his parents to AIDS when he was 13. As the first born son and with no relatives in a position to help, Jonah was expected to take care of his five younger siblings and had to drop out of school. He started selling sugar cane and plastic bags to pay for their school fees. In 2008, Jonah went to his traditional chief to approach Blantyre Presbyterian Synod's entrepreneurship and micro-finance programme, funded by HOPEHIV. He asked for training in business management and group dynamics. After the training, Jonah was among the orphan guardians who received a revolving business loan of MK10,000 (£40). It enabled him to get a hawker’s concession at the local trading centre. He now buys and sells eggs, cooking oil, rice and plastic bags. From the proceeds he gets from the hawker business, Jonah is now able to buy school uniform for his siblings and other essential materials, as well as repaying the loan.
Find out more about our project with Blantyre Presbyterian Synod.
Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.
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