InGear - The Newsletter of P4P, Sewing Partners, Uganda

Uganda: Mityana Open Troop Foundation Graduation, 18 November 2018

By Mathew Yawe, Executive Director, Mityana Open Troop Foundation
Fall 2018 InStitch

The Mityana Open Troop Foundation held this year’s graduation on 18 November 2018. Robinson Nsumba Lyazzi, the director of Basic Education, Uganda Ministry of Education, presided over the graduation and commissioned 71 graduates:

  • 28 in sewing/tailoring
  • 40 in hair dressing & weaving
  • 3 in motor vehicle mechanics


All graduates were awarded certificates and each sewing graduate was given a nice sewing machine from Sewing Peace U.S.A. The function was witnessed by over 600 guests, trainee parents, and government officials.

Achievements:

  • Conducted the 7th Project Graduation Ceremony and commissioned 71 trainees.
  • Completed the construction of the Girls dormitories / hostels, with funds from selling some of the sewing machines from Sewing Peace U.S.A.
  • Opened a shop in our town, where we are selling sewing machines and bikes from Pedals for Progress / Sewing Peace U.S.A.
  • Started this year training Agriculture lessons, at our project.
  • The Sewing department is well equipped with sewing machines from Sewing Peace. We experience mechanical problems every day, as learners operate the machines the other way round! But we call the servicing man to repair them, and we are trying to train our youths to fix them when problems arise.

Challenges:

  • Insufficient classrooms at the vocational project! The one existing room (10 ft by 20 ft) can’t accommodate the large number of trainees. Some trainees in the tailoring/sewing class study under tree shelters, while the hair dressers study in the outdoor shelter, where they get soaked when it rains, as there is nowhere to go!!!
  • It is still a challenge to raise shipping costs and pay customs charges for the sewing machines from Sewing Peace. That’s why we have to sell some of them to the communities to enable us cover the shipping costs and customs charges.
  • The project shop where we sell our sewing machines and other sewing services lacks an embroidery machine that can design school badges and name tags. In our district, including the surrounding 6 district, there is no embroidery machine, yet there are many schools that have to travel over 80km to Kampala in search of embroidering services.

Appreciations:

  • Many thanks goes to Mr. David Schweidenback, Pedals For Progress / Sewing Peace, and all its donors, for sending sewing machines of high quality. These machines have allowed us to have one machine per student for hands-on training in our sewing workshop, whereas previously we had one machine per 5 students. Furthermore, the donated sewing machines have supported project activities, such as paying some teachers, completing the construction of a girls’ hostel, and start-up tools for the project graduates. Please, Long Live Pedals For Progress / Sewing Peace.
  • We extend our thanks always to Mr. Christopher James Eldridge, who supports a number of activities at our project.
  • We thank the Government of Uganda, Ministry of Education & Sports, for having sponsored some disadvantaged youths in our programs.
  • Thanks go to Kolping Mityana Women’s project, Namutamba Child Development Program, and Fields of Life for sending orphans and vulnerable children to our vocational project.

Way Forward:

  • Constructing at least 2 classroom block, to accommodate more trainees, and to store tools.
  • Acquiring an embroidering machine, which can help generate income towards sustaining project activities.
  • Starting poultry farming, as chickens are rare and expensive in Uganda, yet need little space and produce profits quickly. We are also looking forward to introducing a chick hatchery machine to supply the 7 surrounding districts.

In conclusion, I especially thank very much Pedals For Progress, who made this year’s Vocational Graduation Ceremony colorful, by having donated many nice sewing machines, which we gave to the graduates. We extend thanks to all U.S. donors and volunteers involved in donating and refurbishing the sewing machines. Our trainees use the machines to generate income for food, housing, and medical care. These machines offer a new life and a better future for our trainees and their families.

Finally, I thank all those who have supported the Mityana Open Troop activities this year, especially Mr. Christopher James Eldridge, the Government of Uganda, and charities sponsoring orphans at our project.

God Bless You All.