Lira | Bonny Otucu, the Assistant Resident City Commissioner of Lira, has encouraged transformed youth who had been living on the streets to use the skills offered by FALIU to earn a living and be productive citizens.
On July 20, 2024, Otucu visited the Farmers Link Initiatives Uganda (FALIU) Training and Skilling Hub division, where most of the street children and youth in Lira City are trained.
The youth are skilled in tailoring, carpentry, baking, liquid soap production, and hairdressing.
The training facility is situated in the Senior Quarters Cell, Senior Quarters Ward, Lira City East Division.
ARCC Otucu says he is always curious about what is going on in the city. “I learned about this place a few weeks ago, and when I got the Director’s contact information, I called and told him I wanted to visit,” Otucu said.
The assistant commissioner expressed his admiration for the training facility after visiting it. “I found the preaching going on in the afternoon, and the youth were attentively listening to the sermon from the man of God who is one of their instructors.”
David Opio, the Director of FALIU, stated that he has been struggling with some of the street children. “Some had very bad records, but after joining the skilling hub, their lives changed and they are now living a good life in the community.”
He described the transformed youth as “no longer a nuisance.” Due to a lack of resources, trainees return home after skilling sessions.
Opio stated that he was inspired to start the skilling hub not for financial gain, but because “the youth actually do not pay anything to join.”
“But all I want to do is change the lives of these young people so that they can become responsible citizens. I use the proceeds from PDM to run the skilling hub.”
Opio received shs1m from PDM and invested in coffee. He is using the profits from his coffee business to run the skilling hub, which is also supported by Farmers Link Initiative Uganda.
The majority of the training equipment was donated to him by well-wishers, he told the ARCC, adding that he has since received donations such as sewing machines and posho from the community, who have seen and appreciated his efforts.
Otucu counselled and shared lighthearted moments with the trainees, encouraging them to be law-abiding citizens so that they are not perceived as bad people.
He also advised them to use their skills to better their lives so that they are not exploited by self-seekers for personal gain, which could endanger their lives.
“Work hard,” Otucu told them, adding that those who have not yet obtained their National IDs should register with NIRA by 2026 in order to be eligible to vote.
In unison, the trainees, most of whom were young, assured Otucu of “clean votes for Museveni and Dr. Jane Aceng.”
They told Otucu that they call Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng “mother” because of her love for them.
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