“I was sitting at home doing nothing but now I am getting skills” says a proud 24-year old Fatima Namer, while she participates in the Interlocking Soil Stabilizing Blocks (ISSB) training in Matany. “My family is happy that I’m trying to get a better future." 

ISSB trainees are taught to produce building blocks with a brick pressing machine, which contrasts with the traditional method of baking bricks in a firewood oven. As the ISSB blocks need less cement and no firewood they pose a cheaper and eco-friendly production alternative.

These instant trainings are organized by Enabel’s Support to Skilling Uganda (SSU) project, as part of the Skills Development Fund, with financial support from Irish Aid. The aim is to provide relevant and qualitative instant-trainings of 10 to maximum 100 hours. Trainees are selected through the local livelihood actors, in this case the Matheniko Development Forum, who provide pre-training and post-training support to beneficiaries. 

32-year old trainee Moses Angore participates in the ISSB training because he wants to work in the construction sector. “It offers work opportunity, not only in Karamoja but all over the country." He believes that all Karamojong should be able to participate, even the girls: “We would be biased if we only gave this opportunity to men. I believe a girl can also do this work."

The bricks are sold after the training “Currently there is demand for curved earth blocks so we focus on producing those.” adds instructor Eric Mpaza. After the brickmaking, trainees learn how to build a traditional Karamojong hut using only eco-friendly construction materials, sourced from the surrounding savannah.

Equipping young Karamojong with employable construction skills increases livelihood opportunities and protect the natural resources in the region.