NEWS AND EVENTS
SISTER LED YOUTH INITIATIVE UGANDA LAUNCHES PHASE III WITH EXPANDED FOCUS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
The Sister-Led Youth Initiative Uganda (SLYIU), a program under the Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU), convened training centre administrators and other participants from the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Gulu and Tororo at the end of January 2026 for an orientation on the Phase III Core Program Areas (CPA). Among the administrators were Principals, Directors, Headteachers, and delegates serving as senior trainers, educators, and mentors. Together, they shared experiences from Phases I and II and reaffirmed their role as builders of hope for young people, especially the most vulnerable, as they embark on Phase III. Six additional vocational training schools have been included in this phase, bringing the total to 22.
The SLYI National Program Coordinator, Rev. Sr. Caroline Bacia, LSMIG highlighted three key developments introduced in Phase III: {1} Of the targeted 1,035 youths to be skilled over the three years of implementation, 50 will be survivors of human trafficking/Trafficking in persons, and 50 Youth With Disabilities will be recruited. {2} Support will be extended to three selected ARU Member Institutes to establish Mega Businesses as a strategy to strengthen their existing production units, support already skilled youths in terms of employment, support other most vulnerable youth who haven’t got opportunity for skilling and sustain the sisters’ communities in the long term. {3} Over 90 skilled youths will be expected to receive apprenticeship or employment in the mega businesses.
{4} A functional Partnership and Employment Hub Office (PEHO) has been established, with an appointed officer to manage it. The officer is responsible for linking skilled youths to employment opportunities and internships across the country, as well as tracking the progress and success of those trained and supported with start up kits in Phases I and II. The PEHO will also be linked to a website to increase the SLYI’s visibility and draw in new donors and potential employers.
SR. JUSTINE CONTINUES WITH SESSION.
The Sister-Led Youth Initiative focuses on restoring dignity, hope, and opportunity for young people facing hardships, build their confidence and empowering them to become agents of positive change in society. This is achieved through hands-on skills training in partnership with selected training centres operating under the Technical, Vocational and Education Training (TVET) framework across the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Gulu and Tororo.
Participants gained deeper insight into the Technical, Vocational and Education Training (TVET) Act through an in-depth presentation by Rev. Fr. Nicolas Kiruma, Education Secretary, Kampala Archdiocese. The session was meant to help them understand the policies and standards required for an institution to qualify as a training centre as well as those qualified to be trainers
The Secretary General – ARU addresses the centre administrators, appreciating their efforts as they collaborate in the implementation of the Program. She then proceeded to the handing over of the project document to the administrators.
