Spotlight On: Supporting Youth Out of Ultra-Poverty

 Byarugaba, learn how we partner with Ugandan youth as they unlock their potential, upgrade their skills, and improve their livelihoods, so they can break the cycle of ultra-poverty.

Tell us about yourself and your role at Raising The Village. How long have you worked with youth? 

I’ve worked with youth and other vulnerable groups for about six years, four of which I have spent working as a Senior Project Officer with Raising The Village. I support and monitor project implementation and facilitate community engagement. It has been great to support youth, to whom I belong.

From your experience, what are the main challenges that youth face in last-mile communities?

To begin with, a high percentage of children and youth drop out of schools as a result of the long distance between schools and households, along with parents’ inability to afford school fees. Cultural stigmas also hinder girls’ development, from early marriages to depriving them from education and training opportunities. Those in low-income families particularly suffer from the lack of menstrual hygiene kits, which forces them to stay at home.

Often limited to small-scale agriculture, youths’ income sources are minimal, and they lack access to factors of production. With few employment options in their villages, many seek out white collar jobs in urban centers, but lack the required skills. This distracts them from investing in businesses that can help them gain economic freedom. The few who try to launch their own business can't access loans or capital. Additionally, young community members are often excluded from leadership roles, which deprives them from representation and inclusion in the decision making process.

Why does RTV focus on youth as an individual group? How are their needs different from others?

Challenged by the mentioned factors, youth are a vulnerable group. They are the future generation, so empowering them means a better future and economy for the whole community. Additionally, we've seen that given their motivation, youths sustain projects well and for long, once they have proper guidance, tools and resources. This is why we prioritize partnering with them to uplift their standards of living through different approaches.

Tell us more about this. How does RTV help youth?

We address youth’s needs on several levels. While some areas of focus cut across other groups, others are tailored for them: 

What are the key changes you see in young people’s lives as they move through the Secure, Improve, Sustain program?

Youth in RTV partner communities have made significant progress in different aspects:

What’s your expected outlook on these youth’s future?

I see that the future of the youth in our partner communities is definitely brighter with our holistic program. Breaking out of ultra-poverty is definitely possible - we see it happen. We can’t always build the future for the youth, but we can build our youth for the future.