Launchihg of 15 Entrepreneurship Clubs
Posted by: YESUganda  
Uploaded by:YES Network-Uganda
Event Description:
Global Entrepreneurship Week activities in Uganda took different forms of activities, ranging from the official launch of the GEW, launching entrepreneurship clubs in 15 schools, and meeting and exchanging ideas with youth leaders on how they can further business development first as leaders and secondly as role models in there communities. There were various themes under which these activities were undertaken. The launch of GEW was done under the theme “promoting enterprising mindset” Enterprise Uganda organized a joint event with Youth Employment Systems, Uganda Country Network to officially launch GEW in the country. This was on 18th November 2009. Over 500 youth from universities, secondary schools and primary schools attended. Six youth were awarded with a start up grant from Enterprise Uganda. These were winners of the business essay writing competition. All winners had written essays on recycling papers into beads, decomposing wastes to make organic manure, starting poultry farms among others. YES – Uganda pledged to work together with them to enhance green jobs development. Prior to 18th November, YES – Uganda had organized two other events. One in secondary schools and one with youth leaders in urban areas in the capital city of Uganda. ”Cultivating the Rich Mind in Students at Kawempe Youth Centre” Themes were different. For schools, YES – Uganda organized an extensive debate on “cultivating the rich mind in youth” and also “launched 15 entrepreneurship clubs” in 15 schools. (Trinity High School, Vision High School, Broadway High School, Oxford High School, Kawempe Mixed SSS, Kawempe Muslim Girls, Kawempe Royal College, Central College Kawempe, Mita College, Storm High School, Kazo Mixed, Mutesa II, Bright Future, St. Lawrence, Godsway, SAM IGA, Kanyange SSS) There was an amazing show up of courage among youth in schools. A 15 year old Nakayiza, studying in form II narrated to fellow students her business. She owns a pay phone which pays for her fees and scholastic materials. Her mum wakes her up as early as 5am to prepare baking materials which the mum uses to fly cassava, chapatti and in return the mum The YES TEAM during the Launch of EC in One of the schools take care of the pay phone until the girl comes back from school. “I don’t use my phone to call friends, though fellow students call me, on the weekend, I make more money because there are many fellow girls who come to me to call friends those are way I afford my fees” Each club launched in these schools attracts over 80 students / members. Money is scarce among students but at least each of these people paid 1000shs (1$- 1900shs) to become members. It is very clear, that entrepreneurship talks in school are important. Students fail to study when their parents fail raising money to keep them in school. Students requested YES – Uganda to have outreach activities and provide them with a platform in schools to exchange ideas which help them strengthen their motivation toward business as a career. Others requested YES –Uganda to establish prototype businesses in school entrusted in the hands of students. The strength of this idea is that many young people will be involved if YES work with them to develop projects in their homes. Students shared ideas on how they can keep local birds at local scale, feed them with maize brand or grass, work with their parents and be able to raise capital for their future investment. Clubs are important strategies which YES think would cultivate and promote entrepreneurship but also have the potential to hatch new ideas. On the other hand, youth in urban areas are worst hit by unemployment. In Kampala, the capital city 17% of youth are unemployed. Together with UN HABITAT YES organized an entrepreneurship awareness event for youth leaders. The theme was “youth meeting the challenges of today”. It has always been presumed that leaders are informed and that they have the potential to overcome challenges. (Youth Leaders in Kampala) This was not what was revealed during the GEW activity when we met the youth leaders. A greater number of them are not employed. Many of them have no ideas on how to start businesses. Others are job seekers for a number of years. The focus of the entrepreneur’s awareness activity was to open up the enterprising mindset among them This was successfully done through a series brilliant presentation from role models in the field of entrepreneurship. Mr Kyeyune took leaders through self awareness activity which helped them realize there potential, existing opportunities, there strength and ways of overcoming weakness. A practical session on what I can do as business challenged leaders through a thinking process and each identified several businesses which he or she can do. Although this was the first time YES – Uganda is engaging herself in GEW activities, a number projects and business ideas were generated. The pro poor tourism prospects are ideas we intend to carry forward. Entrepreneurship clubs in school provide a reach and a predominant means of exchanging business ideas among students at an early age. We must not under estimate the potential of energy farming as a means of providing employment avenues for young people. It is through these ideas that we intend to further the spirit of generating green jobs.
Event Location:
Kampala
Kampala

Event Hours:
9:00 AM to 18:00 PM
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