Agriculture dominates Uganda’s economy employing over 72% of the 13.9 million working population.

Along with climate changes, one of the issues that is challenging optimization of farming as an income generator for the country is the fact that youth engagement in agriculture is very low.

Many youths perceive agriculture as uncool, very long term method that doesn’t generate quick profits and not easy to understand yet there is a lot of untapped potential in agriculture.

The emerging cinema in Uganda is termed as Ugawood or ‘Kinauganda’. In the past, Uganda’s cinema was frowned upon because of substandard work, today however, with the availability of better filming equipment and more experienced film makers, the local cinema is garnering interest and active involvement from the country.

More locally made films are being made and premiered every month, these films depending on their subject matter usually attract sponsorships from NGOs, corporate organizations and Government ministries.

As well, Uganda is a very celebratory country; weddings, birthday parties and other events are held almost every single day.

The common factor for all these events is the desire to preserve memories which role is handled by a photographer and videographer.

In addition to film making skills, IYC will offer media skills such as filming and editing, social media management, photography, TV and radio news reporting.

Based on a workshop organized to launch IYC, almost 70% of the over 300 youth attendees professed an interest in attaining media skills.

IYC seeks to pass on hands on skills to interested youths who want to venture in to this field.

Arts and crafts describe a wide variety of activities involving making things with one’s own hands. Many youths have turned this passion in to an income generating venture.

There are so many things that can be made by hand e.g. bags, necklaces, scarves, drawings, among others.

During the workshop organized to launch IYC, 90% of the attendees showed an interest in arts and crafts. For example, Kirabo Sarah a Senior Two student at Golden Secondary School explained that she has always been interested in art, fashion and design. She promised to use IYC’s opportunity to grow her interest.

IYC will be training youths in the making of dierent types of arts and crafts

“Music from the Heart” or “Made to Make Music” – a vibrant, imaginative, creative and skilled community of budding young musicians and music lovers awakened, inspired and challenged to realize their full potential in music. Encouraged, motivated and guided by a supportive community of passionate and engaged music educators and professionals, these young people will be provided with the love, support, experiences and resources necessary to create and express music from the heart and also to reach their dream goals and professional level.

Hairdressing refers to the creativity to impart and design hairstyles. In Uganda women change hairstyles at least twice a month and often need a skilled hairdresser to do the job.

Beyond just hairdressing, IYC seeks to impart the following skills to potential hairdressers;

• customer service and people skills
• an understanding and tactful approach
• an awareness of fashion and current trends
• willingness to learn new hairdressing techniques and methods

Catering as a skill involves preparation, delivery and presentation of food for clients. The food in question includes local, pastries such as cakes as well as international cuisine.

Caterers have to handle such business matters as accounting, marketing and customer relations, in addition to the quality of the food.

IYC seeks to teach youth these skills to youths such that once they enter the market, they are able to go beyond just preparing food but to also learn how to find customers, how to present themselves to customers as well as how to maintain the profitability of their business.

Sports and games have been the reason behind the success of several men and women in Uganda. For example, a few years ago, Dorcus Inzikuru was virtually unrecognized until she won the She won the inaugural world title in women’s 2005 ‘3000’ m steeplechase, as well as the first Commonwealth title in the event after years of dedicated practice.

Many of these sporting endeavors have been birthed from an early age. Youths do have an interest in organized sport but lack mentors to guide them in making the right choices and the right balances between sports and education.

IYC intends to take up this mentorship role to train youths in sports and games such as football, basketball, kick boxing, among others.

Students in Uganda today do not have a good reading and writing culture which affects their educational performance and transcends in to their career life.

In addition, many students are unable to excel in their classroom work simply because they do not know how to revise without cramming.

IYC intends to introduce the ‘enjoyment’ of reading and writing as well as to mentor students on how best to revise for their examinations.

Skills to be imparted include public speaking, widening vocabulary range, silent reading, among others.

Most people think being an entrepreneur is all about coming up with an idea, but that’s just one part. In order to survive in a competitive market, entrepreneurs need to have key skills that will help them navigate the entrepreneurship world.

IYC intends to pass on entrepreneurship skills such as communication, finance, networking, sales, among others to equip youths for their future.

Today at least every person should have knowledge of basic technology skills to survive and enjoy entrepreneurship or the work world.

IYC will work hand in hand with professionals to impart skills such as use of MS Word, Excel, navigating the internet among others to benefactors of the IYC project.