END OF TRAINING SESSION 2018-2019

We are almost at the end of our session and I am so thankful to God for all his blessings of what we have achieved in this short period.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

• The apprentices were able to understand some basic construction terms by being exposed to practical application through the various models we constructed.
  
• Math became the order of the day by measurements in our daily practices. It became so crucial as we squared our modules and simple estimates for materials.
  
• When it came to safety, almost everyone has developed a safety culture and able to identify unsafe practices on a site and how to eliminate hazards before anyone is hurt. However, this is not familiar to most local builders. Hopefully they will be setting valuable examples to others in the industry.
  
• Safe handling of both hand and electric tools, and the right tool for the job is highly emphasized for everyone.
  
• A few, not all are getting a grip of blue print reading and the various components involved to include specifications and detailed drawings.
  
• Masonry, concrete skills, and plaster rendering skills have been acquired, though more practice is still needed.
  
• Carpentry has been part of our session and conducted by Mr. Pasikale, and they are learning right from the basics, making simple stools and tables and they are advancing to more simple items and applying various technical practices.
  
• Last week 10 non-school going apprentices have been placed for further training and work as a footpath to advance in experience, and thanks to the local builders, Mr. Robert Kabengwa and Mr. Fred Luyima in Mityana local area.

CHALLENGES:

• We have met challenges with the steep prices in building materials which are said to be highly taxed, however, we have gracefully been able to work within our means to balance the needs of our session.
  
• Lack of enough space to do our practices on a large scale is a dilemma, as we are working in a limited space of the compound, for the volunteer community member, Mr. Semiti of Namukozi.
  
• One of the challenges the apprentices face at places of placement for training is that, they are given a small amount of facilitation money which does not even cover their transportation, however, I explained and counseled them that these local builders are just helping us to get exposed and gain more experience, as they do not have any allowance for training and material wastage in their bids. So the facilitation allowance is just out of kind gesture we need to embrace for now.

MOVING FOWARD:

• In future we will need to donate some fund in the youth organization account with Centenary Bank, where the members can borrow and use it for transportation to look for jobs, and repay it back, as soon as they start getting paid so others can also use it in the future.
  
• The apprentices suggested to start a soccer team if we can help them with soccer balls next time around, so they can still enjoy their youthful time after work.
  
• As burnt clay bricks are becoming a little bit pricey, we may look into the option of buying a manual cinder block making machine, which cuts down the prices of buying bricks , that use a lot of trees to burn them yet man is destroying the environment.
  
• In the future we will invest in community service around town like we did at the Namukozi church, so people can see more these young people at work which in the long run will create more publicity for the and hence sell the for employment.

THANKS.

We are so grateful and thankful for what God is using us to impact these helpless but hopeful youngsters. You try to read through some of the letters of appreciation they wrote to us and just feel like shedding a tear.

Looking forward to see you soon,

Best,

Patrick Lutalo Director

Teach Men to Fish