New Skills Development Programme Launched to Empower Youth in Soroti
Soroti District – A new skills development programme has been launched in Soroti District to empower vulnerable youth with practical skills, offering them a second chance to support themselves and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Soroti Youth Development Initiative (SOYODI) with support from the Rotary Foundation, aims to benefit at least 100 young people across the sub-counties of Arapai, Asuret, and Aukot.
The programme responds to the growing challenges of illiteracy and youth unemployment in the region, where many young people have been forced to drop out of school due to poverty, teenage pregnancies, early marriages, and family responsibilities. Over a six-month period, participants will be trained in vocational skills, basic literacy, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Speaking at the official launch, Mr. Denis Francis Ajaru of the Rotary Club of Soroti Central highlighted the critical role of education in social transformation. “Literacy brings dignity, unlocks a world of knowledge, and ensures individuals are treated with fairness,” he said.
Ronald Okuraja, Programme Director at SOYODI, encouraged the beneficiaries to be forward-thinking. “We are offering you a foundation; what you build on it is up to you,” he stated. “Be role models in your communities.”
The programme has received a warm welcome from local leaders. Arapai Sub-county LCIII Chairperson Simon Peter Emetu praised the Rotary Foundation for choosing Arapai—a community facing high levels of youth unemployment and school dropouts—as one of the target areas.
One of the beneficiaries, Rhoda Ariokot from Okunguro Village, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity. “SOYODI and Rotary have given me a second chance,” she said.
The initiative underscores the importance of equipping youth with practical skills to break the cycle of poverty, unemployment, and social vulnerability. Organizers hope that as the programme unfolds, the trainees will become ambassadors of change, inspiring their peers and strengthening their communities across rural Uganda.
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