CPAR Uganda Life Skills

What is useful knowledge and what may be useless knowledge

Families. Communities and Government invest a lot in training youths through formal education with the perceived end that they will become active contributors in community and family development. Dr. Laury Lawrence Ocen giving a presentation at the first team workshop of our Challenging Categories Research Project. The reality is that this investment, however sustained, is … Continue reading What is useful knowledge and what may be useless knowledge

CPAR Uganda Life Skills

Dr. Ben Jones on Uganda’s category: ‘Unemployed Graduate’ (Video)

First a disclaimer. The moral situation is not wholesale grim for unemployed graduate youths that get entrusted with youth development interventions in their communities, but the general attitude amongst policy makers seems to be that graduate youths without clearly visible or defined sources of income are generally unemployed, vulnerable, in need of support, are a … Continue reading Dr. Ben Jones on Uganda’s category: ‘Unemployed Graduate’ (Video)

CPAR Uganda Life Skills

They say: “and moreover s/he is a degree holder,” but most times it’s only theoretical

"I studied Bachelors in Demography and Reproductive Health. With the Reproductive Health part of it, I have practical things I am required to do. Well, while at the University, I did not do any practical thing my entire years at the University. And when I joined an organization for my Industrial training, it was "hell". … Continue reading They say: “and moreover s/he is a degree holder,” but most times it’s only theoretical

CPAR Uganda Life Skills

Dr. Ben Jones on the need for a new vocabulary to describe Ugandan youth

There is a particular way in which people talk about young people in Uganda. There is a way they talk about people who don’t have work; and who might not have a salaried job. There is a very standard way, I think, in which often policy-makers, government officials, but also people in civil society, the … Continue reading Dr. Ben Jones on the need for a new vocabulary to describe Ugandan youth

CPAR Uganda Life Skills

How Ugandan youth creatively use their education – lessons from Gumkit Ann Parlaker

After My Senior Six vacation in 2018, I was admitted to study clinical medicine at Gulu School of Clinical Officers and the excitement was much. Unfortunately, it did not happen as per my expectations. So, that year, I never went back to school, life wasn’t easy. My ambition was to get a job. In my … Continue reading How Ugandan youth creatively use their education – lessons from Gumkit Ann Parlaker