‘OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS HAVE IMPROVED IN EVERY WAY, TRULY A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE!’
The Pioneer Technical Institute (PTI) in Iganga, Uganda, has been training young people in various technical fields for over 25 years. Since 2021, with the support of Gered Gereedschap, the school has been working to further professionalize its education and offer more and more young people opportunities for a future as skilled tradesmen or tradeswomen. The collaboration initially focuses on supporting the fields of woodworking and metalworking. Yusuf Bachu is the director and owner of Pioneer Technical Institute.
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‘We had few students and barely any equipment, with only one welding machine for metalworking. Thanks to the EQUIP program from Gered Gereedschap, major changes have taken place. The best part was the equipment we received. This has significantly improved our training. With the knowledge our trainers gained from training with Gered Gereedschap, our education has greatly improved. We now know what the market demands, which has enhanced our training and ensured the equipment is being used effectively. We now produce sliding doors, windows, various products, and even chairs. We sell all the products we make here. The partnership has truly awakened us. And it has shown the community that we are doing something important.’
Curriculum and market-oriented education
‘We have also been able to adjust the institution’s curriculum to align it with market needs, following a market assessment. We have trained teachers in vocational skills and pedagogy. We can now pass this knowledge and skills on to the students during both theory and practical lessons. Additionally, we also support access to the job market. We have established an internship and master training program, where students gain practical experience alongside their school lessons. In the last assessment in September, after acquiring the metalworking equipment, the authorities said that we are the best in the east!’
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WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED??
OVERIGE DETAILS
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At Pioneer Technical Institute, we have professionalized the Woodworking and Metalworking departments, equipped workshops with tools and machines, trained teachers, provided scholarships for underprivileged youth to attend school, and offered starter toolkits or sewing machines to graduates.
Iganga, Uganda
Education
Broad support, various forms of assistance
Field: Woodworking and Metalworking
PERSONAL STORIES
Teachers, students, and school principals share their personal experiences.
”STUDENTS NOW GRADUATE BETTER PREPARED’
Gerald Iwaya, Teacher
“Our students now graduate better prepared thanks to a combination of modern tools, improved teaching methods, and individual attention. With their personal toolkits, they can start working immediately, whether in the job market or independently. A big thank you to Gered Gereedschap for their support and contribution to a better future for our students!”
‘THANKS TO THE SCHOLARSHIP, I WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW A VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND LEARN A TRADE!’
Tom Masika, Metalworking student
“I couldn’t afford further education and thought my dreams were over. Then I heard about the scholarship from Pioneer and Gered Gereedschap, and now I’m training to become a welder. With the new tools, we’re learning faster and creating beautiful products like windows and chairs. My future looks bright, and I want to help others who are in the same situation as I was.”
‘IT’S AN HONOR TO NOW BE RECOGNIZED AS THE BEST IN EASTERN UGANDA!’
Yusuf Bachu, Director
“For more than two decades, Pioneer Technical Institute has been committed to providing vocational training to Ugandans. Our training institute has undergone a remarkable transformation thanks to our collaboration with Gered Gereedschap and their support through the EQUIP program. We now have better equipment, improved training, and growing recognition from the community. Proud to be recognized as the best in Eastern Uganda!”
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