‘WITHOUT THAT SCHOLARSHIP, I WOULDN’T BE HERE’

Joel Mutasa is a 22-year-old Motor Vehicle Technology student at Prime Vocational Institute in Iganga, Uganda. He attends school thanks to a scholarship from Gered Gereedschap. A perfect reason to ask him some questions!

Joel, can you start by introducing yourself and telling us a bit about your background?

‘Of course! My name is Joel Mutasa, I am 22 years old and I study Motor Vehicle Technology at PVI. I come from a family of six children, and we have had a tough time. My parents are separated, and my siblings and I were raised by other family members. Due to the financial situation in our family, I couldn’t continue my studies after completing my national certificate in 2019.’

That sounds like a challenging situation. What did you do afterward?

‘After my exams, I started working various odd jobs to earn some money. This wasn’t enough to finance my education, but it helped me get to PVI and enroll in the Automotive Technology program. During my time here, I often had to pause my studies to earn money for my tuition, which made it very difficult to stay in school.’

How has the scholarship from Gered Gereedschap changed your situation?

‘The scholarship from Gered Gereedschap, the EQUIP scholarship, was a real blessing for me. Thanks to this support, I can now fully focus on my studies without worrying about finding money for school. This has greatly helped me pursue my dream without having to drop out of my education.’

What skills have you developed so far in your training?

‘Although I am not yet finished with my training, I have already learned a lot. I have gained knowledge and skills that enable me to perform important repairs, such as maintaining vehicles. The tools provided by Gered Gereedschap make learning and developing practical skills much easier and more effective.’

How do you see your future as a mechanic?

‘Thanks to the scholarship and the tools, I feel much better prepared for a career as a mechanic. I truly see myself being able to fulfill my dream. If I hadn’t received the scholarship, I wouldn’t be standing here. The support has changed my life.’