At Caring Hands we want to enable the most vulnerable of families by empowering them with skills that will allow them to be self-sufficient.  We have run different training programs for beneficiaries and local partners over the last year from our training facility. The training has mainly been based on:

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Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA)

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We provide our beneficiaries with training in Village Savings and Loan Associations. This teaches them how to deal with money, how to save money and also how to invest it wisely in the future. We provide each of the members with a savings kit so that they can start to build up their savings which they can then use on various things.

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During 2016, 86 of our caregivers within the project formed 7 savings and loan groups in their local areas. The initial 86 beneficiaries attracted another 265 members of the community to join their groups and they managed to accrue over 45,000,000 Ugandan Shillings (approx 12,000 euros) between them. Over the year, 99 of our caregivers were able to access these funds to help either create new Income Generating Activities (IGAs) or improve on existing IGAs, pay school fees and paying house rent.

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Income Generating Activities

 

We held various livelihood training course for our beneficiaries throughout the year to increase their knowledge to start their own business; this could be anything from rearing livestock, having a stall selling produce or making and selling hand crafts including our recycled paper beads. The participants were able to gain an income from their IGAs which they could then reinvest in their businesses, contribute to their VSLAs etc. 

 

Our team offered support to the businesses our beneficiaries set up by providing follow up visits to see how they are all doing and offering advice when needed.

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Joint Ventures

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Apprenticeship Skills

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Our team at Caring Hands were able to set up 10 apprenticeship places with various local businesses to allow some of our orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) to get some hands on experience. 6 girls were assigned to hairdressing salons, 2 boys went to a mechanics workshop, 1 boy went to a carpentry workshop and the final boy went to a welding facility. 

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All 10 of our OVC completed their training learning invaluable skills in the workplace. Three of our OVC were retained for permanent employment as reward for their hard work and dedication.

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Business Skills 

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Caring Hands were contracted by Finn Church Aid (a Finnish NGO based in Uganda) to facilitate a Training of Trainers in Business Skills with Uganda Change Agent Association in Gulu Municipal Council. 15 people participated in the training from all over Uganda and the course lasted for four days. The course was designed to train other trainers in the skills of 'Becoming Self-reliant Business People' which would help them to empower beneficiaries in their areas to use these new skills to create self-reliant businesses. 

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The main objectives that were accomplished through the course was increasing the number of women in Northern Uganda actively participating in social activities and increasing their awareness of efficient production methods through different resources. Overall our trainers were able to enhance the knowledge and skills of the participants by actively taking part in income generating activities allowing people to manage their IGAs better and see the positive impact it can have on their lives.

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All the trainers participating in the training already have action plans and courses set up in their local communities, especially in Northern Uganda, to share the knowledge they learnt during our course. 

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