IMPROVED CARPENTRY TRAINING OFFERS EVEN MORE YOUTH A CHANCE AT A BETTER LIFE
Education in Uganda faces significant challenges, especially when it comes to bridging the gap between formal education and the labor market. Lords Meade Vocational College is addressing this with an innovative dual curriculum that offers both secondary education and vocational training. Thanks to the collaboration with Gered Gereedschap, Lords Meade has made significant progress in the quality of vocational education in the field of carpentry.
Francis Nfukiraani has been the director of Lords Meade since 2020: ‘The biggest problem with the formal education system in Uganda is that it is not very practical and detached from the reality of the working world. You see that many graduates have the theoretical knowledge, but lack the skills to be successful in the labor market. That’s why we offer the dual curriculum, and in this we are unique. Students not only receive secondary education, but also follow a three-year vocational training of their choice. This means they leave school with both a secondary school diploma and a vocational diploma, better preparing them for the labor market.’
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MORE EFFICIENT LEARNING WITH NEW TOOLS
Before Lords Meade began collaborating with Gered Gereedschap, the carpentry program faced significant challenges. A lack of tools and modern machines made it difficult to provide effective lessons. Isaac Kyamundu, a woodworking and carpentry instructor, explains: “Before Gered Gereedschap supported us, teaching was difficult. The delivery of modern tools made a big difference. The lessons became not only more enjoyable but also more efficient. It made it easier for both the instructor and the future carpenters to learn and enjoy the training process.”
STUDENTS ARE THRIVING
This enthusiasm is also reflected in the stories of the students. For example, Precious Nabasirye, a carpentry student, says: “Before we had the tools from Gered Gereedschap, the course was boring. Now, everything is different; it has become a real hands-on training!” The collaboration has not only led to improved training conditions but also to financial support for the most vulnerable students. Thanks to scholarships from Gered Gereedschap, many students who would otherwise have had to drop out of their studies can continue their education. Mukasa says: “This scholarship has really changed my life. I used to be sent home often because the school fees weren’t paid, but that is no longer the case.”
TEACHER TRAINING LEADS TO BETTER STUDENT PERFORMANCE
Gered Gereedschap has also played a crucial role in the professional development of carpentry teachers. Several instructors received training to improve their teaching methods. 
This capacity building has led to better student performance and increased teacher engagement. Francis says: “Since the instructors have received this training, their attitude and ability to teach have improved. We have also seen an improvement in the students’ performance, and during the last national exams, we had no student failures.”
The prospects for the upcoming carpenters at Lords Meade Vocational College have significantly improved thanks to the support from Gered Gereedschap. Francis adds: “The students are now not only better prepared for the job market but also have the opportunity to start their own carpentry workshops. This gives them a chance at a better life. And I want to thank Gered Gereedschap for that, because without their support, everything we are talking about here would not have been possible.”
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WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED?
OTHER DETAILS
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Professionalized the carpentry program at Lords Meade Vocational College, equipped workshops with tools and machinery, trained teachers, provided scholarships for underprivileged youth, and provided starter toolkits for graduates
Mpigi, Uganda
Learning
Broad support, various building blocks
Field: Carpentry
PHOTOS
‘THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS STRENGTHENED MY PASSION FOR CARPENTRY.’
Precious Nabasirye, Carpentry Student
“My name is Precious Nabasirye, and I am 17 years old. I am studying Carpentry and Woodworking at Lords Meade Vocational College. The first two years here were really tough for me. My mother, who has been taking care of us on her own since the divorce, struggled to pay my school fees. I was often sent away from school to find money, but we just didn’t have any.
Fortunately, Gered Gereedschap came at just the right time. They are now paying the majority of my school fees, and my mother only needs to contribute a small portion. This has taken a huge burden off our shoulders. Thanks to their support, I can finally go to school without worries and focus entirely on my education.
What’s also great is that Gered Gereedschap helped our school with new, modern tools. Before, it was mostly theory because we didn’t have enough materials. Now, we can truly work practically. Because of this, I have learned how to work much better, and I can see that other students are also becoming enthusiastic about our program. Without Gered Gereedschap, I wouldn’t be here. I am so grateful to them because they have made my future possible.”
‘THANKS TO THAT TRAINING, STUDENTS ARE MORE ENGAGED AND PERFORM BETTER’
Isaac Kyamundu, woodworking teacher
Isaac Kyamundu is a woodworking teacher and is happy to share his experiences since he started teaching in 2020: “The support from Gered Gereedschap has had a huge impact on my field,” he begins. “Before their help, we faced a shortage of tools, which made my lessons much less efficient. Students often had to wait to use the limited and often outdated tools, leading to a lot of repetition of material.”
Isaac continues: “Now, with the new tools from Gered Gereedschap, everything has changed. The students can now work much more practically, which has significantly improved their skills and exam results. The difference is truly remarkable.” He also highlights the positive effects of the scholarships provided by Gered Gereedschap: “Thanks to the scholarships, many of my students, including several girls, can continue their education without the constant worry about school fees. This has strengthened their engagement and performance.”
In addition, Isaac has greatly benefited from the professional development workshops by Gered Gereedschap. “The training I received has renewed and improved my teaching methods. It has helped me apply modern teaching techniques, which benefits my students’ learning outcomes.”
LOCATION
