Northern Uganda suffered for decades under the atrocities of The Lords Resistant Army (LRA) rebels that killed millions of people, abducted million children and many people fled leaving their households to seek refuge in other areas. The rebel activities led to the break-down of social and cultural structures in the region.

Most of the youths in Northern Uganda are not absorbed in the formal employment sector because they lack the required academic credentials. Vocational skills programs are the better alternative for young people to find an occupation. Vocational training provides the young people with avenues for self-reliance resulting from economic empowerment upon completion of the training.

Since 2010, CEFARH fights for the rights of girls and women, people with disabilities and people with HIV/AIDS and received more than 4,000 people a vocational training. The youth of Northern Uganda desperately need the help and protection of adults. Children and young people have been damaged by the civil war that has raged there since 1987. Due to abuse, poverty, kidnappings and war trauma, they drop out of school prematurely. CEFARH wants to remove children from unsafe situations and offer them space to play and learn.

The founder of CEFARH grew up in extreme poverty yet became a doctor. He met people who supported his education. To pass on the support he had received as a child to others, he started in 2010, together with other medical students, a health centre for young adults. Initially it aimed at young people affected by HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancies and child marriages. Its activities and scope broadened during the years and is now also active in vocational training improving the population’s overall quality of life.

Since 2010, more than 4,000 people have followed a training course from CEFARH. The board of CEFARH consists of young people and 70% of them are women.

The aim is to provide vocational training to 350 young people, 160 boys and 190 girls, of which 110 are orphans. CEFARAH provides 6 months training courses in car-maintenance, welding and carpentry, tailoring and hairdressing. In this way, these young people become self-reliant within one year.

After the training, the graduate is expected to become a model youth and transfer skills to others. Start-up toolkits are provided during the graduation phase to help them transfer practical training skills and knowledge to others.

Upon successful completion, the project is estimated to reach 350 direct beneficiaries and a multiple of indirect beneficiaries.

For the delivery by the Betuwe Worldwide Foundation of the necessary machines and tools (for vocational training and starter toolkits), € 7,580 is needed.