I’m almost coming up to the end of my second month in Uganda, and it feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve arrived!
April has been a nice mix of catching up with things to do, planning, travelling and training delivery. It feels like in the chaos of Kampala, things start being in their place and everything seems more familiar.
YARID
Young African Refugee Integral Development is a Kampala based grassroot organisation founded by young Congolese refugees living in Uganda. They tackle social issues such as lack of employment and access to education, by empowering young refugees, asylum seekers and (mostly coming from DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi), by offering vocational skills training, English classes and sport activities. YARID have been partnering with MONDO as we trained their ICT instructors through the Digital Competencies Training (Training of Trainers - ToT) and have so far successfully taught digital skills to 236 young people.
Early this month, Clarisse and I organised a second ToT for the instructor to focus on topics that were specifically requested by them, namely improving students’ engagement techniques including energizers, communication, presentation skills, and conflict management within the classroom, which were aimed to enabling improving their teaching practices. We not only appreciated the engagement of the teachers, but also the commitment they showed to continue the project and the passion they demonstrated in passing on the knowledge to the youth.
Some of YARID teachers' team, Ambra, Clarisse (EUAV) and Judith, Livelihood Programme Coordinator
Gulu
After a month, we were back to Gulu this time to deliver our first training sessions to the members of UPA branch. The full EUAV team (Clarisse, Felicia, Sophie and I) travelled up north and spent 3 full on and exciting days running different activities. With the help of the representatives of UPA in Gulu, Clarisse and I organised 2 separate trainings, one aimed directly to train on basic ICT skills using smartphones and tablets the beginners of the group, and one to train future ICT trainers within the members. Both the “general” and ToT reached 23 people altogether, all coming from different age groups, jobs, interest and knowledge.
It was great to see young people learning alongside adults, helping each other and sharing insightful feedback and ideas for the next sessions. We will see these amazing groups in May to deliver the second part of the training!
Ice breaker activity
Feedback and expectations activity
Some of the future ICT trainers from UPA
This training was made possible thanks to the use of microfinance: The EUAV are able to spend 125 euro a month on costs related to training material, equipment and venue rent. Whilst the Taks (Art) Centre in Gulu was our workspace for three days, Maendeleo Foundation in Kampala rented us 8 tablets that we’ve given to the participants who did not have a smartphone to practise on, for the duration of the training. Tablets and smartphone in fact, use the same android system, which made it easier for people to follow the class and learn some useful tools such as creating a Gmail account and sending emails, web browsing and learning about online safety, to name a few.
The tablets we rented from Maendeleo Foundation
But what happens on the backstage, on those days with no training to plan or to deliver?
From researching and reaching out to potential motivational speakers for MONDO Education and Livelihood programmes, to drafting story collection concepts, to creating register templates, all the little things that hopefully help our partners and our main projects to thrive and function at their best. I have been a bit unwell this month but when not in the office I can rely on my four pawed mini helpers.
The work-from-home mini helpers :)
UPA branches’ members will be amongst our protagonists next month, as we are planning training and meetings to optimise our time here and ensure a sustainable method of passing on the knowledge to new members.
I am looking forward to seeing what this May brings :)
Ambra
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