Feature
Intergenerational community vibes as youth pop corn and receive skills.
By Tusiime Tutu
On Tuesday, while the current president of Uganda swore in for his seventh term of gains, many flocked to Kololo grounds and their televisions or any other digital device to catch Uganda step into the spectacle of its fresh national growth!
Somewhere in the South Western part of Uganda though, a new generation was looking to gain its own fresh future as those in Sheema District gathered on 12th May to utilise the holiday in a communal way. For why not! “It was a great day at the Christian Discipleship Resource Centre (CDRC), at Ankole Western University, as we hosted the Youth on a Skilling spree”. Jolly Kabigumira, Director CDRC.
This skilling fair, was hosted by partnering members from the Bororana Community Charity, Kicunguro Angel Center, Tubegye Study Centre and the Christian Discipleship Resource Centre, all community based organizations in Sheema District. Luckily, as a free entry community event, Jibu Water also shared enough water to keep attendees hydrated and the Church of Uganda, Kabwohe Archdeaconry, warmly welcomed the community.
The day started with a “devotion session as the Church was represented by the Chaplain of Nganwa Junior School, who ably explained the theme; ‘how can a young man keep his way pure?’ Ps 119;9. This was followed by a Bible study session into Ps 119;9-16, as prepared by the Director CDRC,” recounts Jolly Kabigumira (Kicunguro Angel Center).
Thereafter, the over fifty attendees were carried through various soft social skills by Mrs. Jenina Tushemereirwe B. (Tubegye Study Centre), as Youth learnt self-awareness, relating with others and making informed decisions. The rest of the day was then used for practical skilling sessions coordinated by Ms Tusiime Amutuhaire (Bororana Community Charity) to include:
- Paper bag making
2. Beads and bracelet making
Sustainability of the Skilling Fair
Essentially, learners were required to use creativity and innovate through making a paper bag, a bracelet, and to pop some corn! Here, with the new curriculum of formal education taking impact, peers were tasked to tap into shared knowledge and come on the other end with a recognizable and working product!
“It was indeed a memorable day. Each youth went with a participation certificate that was presided over by Canon Kabigumira representing Community leadership of Sheema District,” says the Director CDRC. The community leader called on youth to look towards gaining a future that experiences intergenerational harmony, while exciting the youth to join in older persons ministry and bridge the gap that socially pushes generations away from a bororana (growing each other) lifestyle.
Some of these youth skilled into gerontology (study of aging), thence join with Kicunguro Angel Centre to serve communities of older persons gathered at community visits such as the Medical Camp at Rwabutura C.O.U on 20th May, 2026. These youth who didn’t go to Kololo, instead go to Rwabutura in Youth/Older persons ministry.
- Participants experiences
For the youth from this Skilling Fair, age is a celebrated diversity. With participants ranging from primary students, secondary schoolers, post secondary vacationers, university and tertiary students, post-graduate entrepreneurs, informal sector workers, directors and older persons, the skilling fair celebrated community diversity whilst bridging the knowledge gap.
“Hhmm, twiine kushoma (we have to study),” Ankole Western University student notes.
Teachers guided students, students enlightened teachers, neighbors shared knowledge and the day dusked with delight, even with time lags that constrained some of the skilling sessions. For Nyamwija Denise, an S.6 vacationer, “the skilling fair was an eye-opening experience that showed me how practical skills can spark both creativity and opportunity. This fair gave me practical, hands-on experience in bead making, earring making, paper bag making, popcorn making, Bible study, and so many more. Beyond the crafts, I learnt that skills can create independence, that creativity adds value to simple products, and that learning by doing makes new skills feel achievable.”
Adding “The experience has given me confidence to start small and turn ideas into products. And as an inspiring engineer, the fair reminded me that engineering is not only about machines but about applying practical skills and creativity to turn simple resources into solutions and also how all these principles connect to problem-solving in infrastructure and construction. I really encourage more youth to attend the upcoming fair.”
- Resolutions and way forward
As the day closed, it was clear, the community was full and hopeful. One more day, some more time, and indeed the community resolved to have the Skilling Fair yet more times. After all, more skills could be shared. For instance, as one of the participants Nyamwija Marion noted, ‘the community could try backyard gardening to leave a tangible benefit for the host location of the community skilling fair’. It is fair, to note. More skills, why not!
Take for example the student who immediately started on the paper bag franchise soon after the event activities ended. He did not waste any moment and shortly after the Skilling, shared samples ready for sale on the community online space as youth continue to interact in more skilling and shared growth. In the end, participants in this Skilling Fair shared several resolutions:
• Learnt how to keep pure and well, from Bible study and other social life skills
• Learnt how to make popcorns and envelopes and beads work
• Ensure to mobilise more youth to spread the program further
• Utilize and make use of certificates that add value on CV
• A need for more time required to learn more skills
• Contributions amongst the community to support the skillings
• Extend services and skills to others
• Practice what was learnt
• Youth/Older persons ministry for harmonized intergenerational growth • Using more local language to extend community based interactions.
