UGANDA

Uganda is young. Two-thirds of Ugandans are under 30 and live in rural areas. The challenges facing young people are significant. Yet their potential, individually and as a group, is staggering. Increased youth livelihoods can drive economic growth. Young people making informed, safe sexual decisions makes for a healthier population. Including young people strengthens democracy, decreases the risk of unrest, and makes Uganda a more robust country.

Restless Development has worked in Uganda since 1997 and now has programmes in 12 districts, reaching 30 000 people annually. The three key areas of our work are livelihoods and employment, sexual reproductive health and youth-led research.

With your support Restless Development Uganda will be able to expand its reach and continue to work with young people to deliver life-changing projects in their community.

DID YOU KNOW?- Population of 36 million- 49% are under 14 years old- Women have on average between 5-6 children- 68% of the population live on less than $1.25

OUR PROGRAMMES- Youth- lead action research- YouthMap Internship programme- Youth empowerment programme

restlessdevelopment.org /restlessdev @restlessdev

YOUTH-LED ACTION RESEARCH

Restless Development aims to demonstrate the importance of community participation in development through involving young people to lead research on land, peace and customary law. So far the research engaged nearly 5,000 people. The findings will be the basis for local advocacy to ensure that young people have a voice when it comes to the decisions which directly affect them.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMEYOUTHMAP

INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

In Uganda, youth face multiple barriers to employment, including a lack of skills training and enterprise development support, misalignment of education with labor market needs, and the denial of access to land and markets. To address this Restless Development Uganda has implemented the YouthMap Internship Programme in partnership with International Youth Foundation.The programme gives enthusiastic and talented graduates the opportunity to prove themselves by giving them practical skills and work experience.The results prove that young people can, they just need the chance. After completion over 65% of internship graduates secured full time employment.

Uganda has one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations, but it also faces challenges because of this youth bulge. In order to contribute to long-term, sustainable change, Restless Development realizes the need to influence the structures, systems and policies shaping young people’s lives.

Restless Development’s Youth Empowerment Programme does exactly that. It provides young people with the knowledge, skills and networks they need to secure a productive livelihood, whether by starting a business or getting a job. We partner with government, employers and other NGOs to ensure young people can access the support they need.

As a minimum standard throughout our programmes, we aim to reach young people with both sexual and reproductive health awareness, and livelihoods and employment support. The two strands are strongly complementary as income security increases young people’s options making them less vulnerable to sexual exploitation leading to HIV. This is particularly true for young women.

As a result of the programme there has been a 61% increase of youth and community reporting increased household food security and a 48% increase in young people adopting safe sexual health practices.

CASE STUDY:

“THE DAY I WAS OFFERED AN INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF MY CAREER GROWTH …. I WAS EXPOSED TO GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO GAIN EXPERIENCE AND NETWORK.”

GOAL: LIVELIHOODS AND EMPLOYMENT

Doreen Nasuuna is a 24 year old Bachelor of Commerce graduate from Makerere University. Despite her talent, motivation and pro-active approaches to employers she was unable to secure work after graduation. Her talents were recognised by the YouthMap team and she was placed as an intern in the finance department at FICA Seeds for six months. Doreen made the most of the training, networking, mentoring and work experience offered by the programme.

Through her internship she was introduced to Barclay’s Bank, where she has now been offered a position as Finance Payment Officer, her first permanent role.

GRADUATE STARTS A PROMISING CAREER WITH AN INTERNSHIP 83% OF UGANDANS AGED 15 – 24 ARE UNEMPLOYED AND MORE AND MORE GRADUATES ARE FACED BY A LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES AND HIGH COMPETITION.

CASE STUDY:

“THE DAY I WAS OFFERED AN INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF MY CAREER GROWTH …. I WAS EXPOSED TO GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO GAIN EXPERIENCE AND NETWORK.”

GOAL: LIVELIHOODS AND EMPLOYMENT

Doreen Nasuuna is a 24 year old Bachelor of Commerce graduate from Makerere University. Despite her talent, motivation and pro-active approaches to employers she was unable to secure work after graduation. Her talents were recognised by the YouthMap team and she was placed as an intern in the finance department at FICA Seeds for six months. Doreen made the most of the training, networking, mentoring and work experience offered by the programme.

Through her internship she was introduced to Barclay’s Bank, where she has now been offered a position as Finance Payment Officer, her first permanent role.

GRADUATE STARTS A PROMISING CAREER WITH AN INTERNSHIP 83% OF UGANDANS AGED 15 – 24 ARE UNEMPLOYED AND MORE AND MORE GRADUATES ARE FACED BY A LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES AND HIGH COMPETITION.

6 1 % I N C R E A S E I N H O U S E H O L D

F O O D SECURITYAFTER ATTENDING LIVELIHOOD TRAINING

2 2 5 YOUNG PEER E D U C A T O R S R E A C H E D

1 1 , 0 0 0 C O M M U N I T Y M E M B E R S OVER 4 YEARS