YARID graduates over 670 refugees in vocational skills programs

By Elijah Khisa

The Young African Refugees for integral development [YARID] has been commended for helping to economically empower refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons [IDPs] and host communities to overcome the burden of deprivation and vulnerability to become healthy, educated, self-sustaining and contributing members of society in Uganda.  

The development came to light recently during the 2024 graduation ceremony for YARID  held at Kansanga their headquarters   were over 670 young adults both refugees and members from the local host communities were awarded with certificates after completing   hands-on skilling training programs empowering them to overcome the burden of poverty.

The refugees were drawn from their three centers of Kawempe  Makindye and Lubaga  who were awarded certificates in various professional hands on skills programs including  English for adults, ICT, tailoring, art and craft among others under their strategic Job training and placement [JTP] program.

Wisdom Karungu, the YARID youth engagement program lead officer observed that they target at Empowering refugees and asylum seekers with life skills so that they can become self-reliant   with English language and functional adult literacy skills so that they would be able to communicate with nationals in their host environment and to read and write in their local languages. They also lobby and advocate for refugee rights and welfare as well as Create a community space for refugees to improve their lives with livelihoods strategies in order to rebuild their shattered lives.