FICH equips graduates with project planning and management skills 

Oyam | The Foundation for Inclusive Community Help (FICH), in collaboration with Grassroots Net for Innovation and Change (GRIC), completed a two-day physical training session for the 2024 cohort V.

Held between July 29 and 30, 2024,  cohort V attracted 22 graduates.

Patrick Ocen, Director of Programmes at FICH, told tndNews that the training focused on improving the abilities of young graduates so that they could take advantage of opportunities funded by GRIC Africa, a non-governmental organisation based in Kenya.

Project planning and management fundamentals were imparted to the 22 young individuals who were chosen to participate in the cohort V, according to him. This year, the cohort will prepare for a six-month mentorship.

“We are equipping the young people with the basics of project planning and management, and we believe that project management is a core aspect for growth whether they are working with government, NGO, or the private sector,” he added.

Ocen adds that the priority is to increase young people’s capacity and knowledge base, as well as their ability to present good project proposals that can be equally funded by different donors and be resourceful to the various organisations for which they work. 

Chris Oluge, a data analyst and researcher (mentor), believes that the mentorship session on project planning and management will provide young people with opportunities and platforms to start and run their own projects.

“This is a good platform, and I believe it gives the young people the knowledge while empowering them to excel in project planning and management,” Oluge added.

He adds that training is important because it allows young people to navigate the various dimensions that manifest in an ever-changing world.

“Imagine if your project is selected and funded for the next 3 years, it comes with opportunities of being an employer and also passes on skills to the different youths,” he added.

Meanwhile, Hamza Okello, a project management specialist (mentor), believes that the training is timely because young people face a number of challenges, including a lack of skills and institutional support.

“Most times after university education, young people need to be supported continuously to ensure that they develop skills around them, and some of these skills include; planning, effective communication, network building and coordination among others,” he said.

Okello also believes that the training will benefit and create partnerships with several young people, allowing them to prosper in the future.

“We recognize that as young people are trained, they will be able to get theoretical and practical skills to be able to navigate life career potentials,” said Okello.

Responding to the seemingly high rate of unemployment among youths across the country, Okello notes that one factor contributing to the problem is the inability to provide young people with opportunities to learn new skills.

He is urging leaders and other stakeholders to provide space for young people to learn more practical skills for navigating day-to-day life challenges. 

Agnes Nakikawa, an Art in Education graduate from Gulu University who took advantage of the two-day training, says most graduates return home due to a negative perception of the limited job opportunities in Uganda.

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She has urged other young people to teach themselves to embrace the competitive world by taking on various tasks and being innovative.

“The world we live in has changed and it’s now all about us to accept to change our perception and mindset and become innovative in our different fields,” she added.

Josaphat Omarorwoth, a graduate teacher from Gulu University says the basics passed on to them is an eye opener to them now since the world is currently id about job creation instead of job seeking.

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“With these skills in project planning and management, I believe that we shall   now write good projects that can be funded by different donors. That is the way to go now especially for the youths,” he added.