Speaking at the graduation ceremony of at least 60 female graduates from the Girl’s Apprenticeship Program, phase VII, under the TechnoServe organization, the state minister for youth and children affairs, Sarah Mateke emphasized the need for the youth to obtain financial management skills.

She noted that this is the only way that they can help the youth succeed in ending poverty and the high rate of unemployment in the country.

With support from Citi Foundation, the TechnoServe organization, Uganda has awarded 60 female graduates with certificates in the fields of tailoring, hairdressing, welding and shoe making other others

The state minister for youth and children affairs, Sarah Mateke, who was the chief guest at the ceremony, advocated for the teaching of financial management skills to the youth to enable them to thrive in their different ventures.

Mateke appreciated Citi Foundation and TechnoServe for empowering the girls with marketable hands-on skills. She also elaborated on some of the government programs in place to qualify the youth with knowledge of money-generating ventures.

TechnoServe has so far killed more than 400 girls over the past 7 years, with an enrollment of 60 girls each year between 18 to 24 years, including teenage mothers.

Juliet Kyokunda, the organization’s country director said that the Girl’s Apprenticeship skilling program has successfully met some of the needs of the society hence, filling a gap in the need to end poverty.

The CEO of Citi Bank, Uganda, Sarah Arapta noted that the organisation has so far invested close to 2 billion in the TechnoServe Girl’s Apprenticeship Program.

Arapta explained why they are interested in funding this program.

At the graduation ceremony, the graduates were equipped with startup tools like shoemaking machines, sewing machines, and grinders, among others, the top three winners of the program’s business plan competition were awarded with certificates and startup capital, the highest bagging USh 1 million.

For a girl to be enrolled on the Girl’s Apprenticeship program, she needs to have been identified by a mentor (knowledgeable personnel skilled in different fields), either from church or the community and later, be subjected to interviews to be part, if passed.