Amid colorful balls of yarn, trainees put the finishing touches on scarves, ponchos and doormats. They have been working on these items for weeks as it counts for their final examination of the 'Knitting and Crochet' training in the Rosa Mystica Institute in Fort Portal. “Every tailor in town knows how to make a dress or shirt, but not everyone knows how to make a doormat," says their proud trainer, Eunice Wekesa.

Passionate about sewing, Eunice has been working as a textile trainer for over ten years. “It has taught me patience. Some of my students don’t have high academic levels but because they are patient with their work they do it even better.”  Her students are the fifteen trainees in 'Knitting and Crochet' and sixteen trainees in 'Tye and Dye', facilitated by the Skills Development Fund of BTC’s Support to Skilling Uganda project. The majority of them being vulnerable youth and school drop-outs, they were selected for the training through local church councils and leaders.

Sister Florence Ahaisibwe is the Director of the Rosa Mystica Training Institute of Vocational and Business Studies. “Before the curriculum was aimed at making uniforms and common clothes. Now we switched to tourism wear and handicrafts, to also attract the tourists in Fort Portal.” They started doing so after the Uganda Small Scale Industry Association (USSIA) gave them the advice.

Moreover, through the Skills Development Fund, USSIA organized training sessions with three Kenyan knitting and crochet experts.“Thanks to BTC’s intervention I could expose my trainees to different techniques.” says trainer Eunice. “We now also have embroidery machines, which allows for next-level stitching and finishing."

For a long time, the institute was only accessible to girls and women. But as trainings are gender-equal, boys were welcomed. John Koojo is one of those boys. “Before I was an artist, designing badges, banners and posters. Thanks to this training I was able to polish my knowledge and get new ideas.” The entrepreneurship courses also gave him insights in financial management and business plans. “I am now motivated to start my own shop with creative designs.”

The Skills Development Fund in Albertine-Rwenzori aims at improving the quality of technical and vocational training through public-private partnerships, in order to enhance the youth’s employability.