CHALLENGES WE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCE

Challenges.

Delays in the vocation tools.

The delay in the vocation tools to reach our project for the last six months greatly affected our progress. The few carpentry and tailoring tools available were being shared.

This led to wastage of time and carrying out constant repairs hence an increase in the costs of repairs and maintenance. However we thank God for having received some tools from TWAM UK.

Students’ personal problems

Some of the students most especially in the tailoring section face personal problems which lead them to miss lessons for a number of days like illness, caring for guardians who are sick etc.

This has been a great hindrance towards the progress of some students and a big challenge to the trainer.

Current economic crisis in Uganda.

Uganda is currently affected by an increase in the prices of commodities due to increase in fuel prices. Food prices have more than doubled, transport costs have doubled.

This has greatly affected us because we spent beyond our planned expenditure. Hence a big threat to our progress.

Transport:

Transport is another challenge we currently face when trying to implement our programs. We find it difficult to disseminate our programs to the community due to lack of transport.

Transportation of wood and timbre for carpentry is also very difficult.  We have trained volunteers who move around in schools, trading centers sensitizing the public on programs like peer education for Adolescent sexual and reproductive health, participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation etc.

Therefore due to the nature and bulkiness of some of our items, the project needs a vehicle (pick up) to ease transport.

Constant power failure schedules.

We are greatly affected by constant power failure schedules. This is a great challenge to our progress because our programmes like computer courses are not completed in time as planned. We lack a standby generator.

Lack of Enough Financial supoport,

Due to the current economic crisis that is prevailing in Uganda which has led to a general increase in the prices of commodities and an increase in the dollar currency.

 We have been forced to forego some of our budget expenses which are indeed very important. This has greatly affected our progress.

Students still need materials to use like cloths, timbre etc. We need more furniture for the students to sit on. We experience high costs for repairs and maintainance of the machines like sewing machines.

We need to buy 200 chairs to add on those available and also purchase three tents which can accomodate 100 people each. The is to have a tent and chairs project for hire.

Way Forward.

Skills building and Income generating Activities

We are to put much more emphasis on skills building programmes and income generating activities for future self sustenance. We hope to produce more carpentry products, tailoring products. We have plans to increase on the party chairs to at least have 300 chairs, we also wish to acquire 3 tents.

All these activities if planned and put into operation will lead to increase on income and finance other project activities. 

Hair dressing programmes

Many youths most especially, the girls who dropped out of school have contacted us for the hair dressing programme.

Hair dressing is a lucrative income generating activity which can sustain the youth especially the girls who have lost hope and others resorting to marriage when they are still young.

Therefore because of the community need we have found it necessary to have this programme put in place to help the girl child.

Graduation Ceremony

Due to the above mentioned factors which have hindered our progress, we decided to have our graduation ceremony for this in take to be organized on

Friday 24th / Feb. / 2012. The extension of the graduation ceremony will help those students who are still poor in performance to pick up.

It will also give enough time to the students to learn how to use some tools new tools we have acquired.

    Conclusion:

The project has received a positive response from the community. The skills and knowledge introduced to the youths and children from the project activities carried out have improved the lives and conditions of the community members. Special thanks from the Management and students of HUPGEN for the possible material and financial support from Tools for Self Reliance (TFSR) and Tools with a Mission (TWAM UK). We therefore invite more organisations and individuals to join hands with us and help the upcoming generation.

ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT AND ACHIEVEMENTS JAN - APRIL 2011

ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT AND ACHIEVEMENTS.

(JAN – APRIL 2011)

In line with the mission, goal and objectives of the organization, the following activities have been carried out by Hope for the Upcoming Generation between January and April 2011:

ACTIVITIES

Final Evaluation of the project for financial and material support by TFSR.

On the 9^th / 2 / 2011, we hosted Mr. Julian and wife Alison who came on behalf of TFSR to carry out a final evaluation of the project for sponsorship.

They had warm welcome and clear presentations from HUPGEN organization team.

They finally made a substantive report about their findings which was presented to TFSR for financial support.

We wish to extend our thanks to all the trustee funders from TFSR, for their contribution towards the support of HUPGEN project. I am happy to report that we finally received the funds in April 2011.  

Students’ enrolment and progress.

Students’ enrolment

HUPGEN enrolled 20 students for sponsorship from TFSR support programme.

The enrollment process involved calling for applications through local council leaders and carrying out door to door visits.

The students were registered for Carpentry, tailoring, entrepreneurship and life skills programmes.

The sponsorship programme officially started on 6^th / Dec / 2010 and is expected to run for a period of one year.

Students progress

Computer training,

Students have continued to register for computer programmes. They are taught in computer applications like ms.word, excel, publisher, power point, data bases, page maker, print artist and internet. 20 students are currently undergoing the training. They are taught in three shifts. I.e. the morning, afternoon and evening.

The duration of the course depends on the number of computer applications a student has registered for. However a single application takes a maximum of 3 weeks.

At the end of the course duration, they are examined and successful students are awarded certificates.

Plans are under way to introduce new programmes like computer networking, programming and repair. 

Official send off ceremony of the COMPUTER STUDENTS.

HUPGEN organized and successfully held the official send off ceremony for some of the students who had successfully completed their training in computer applications; i.e. introduction to computer, ms word and ms excel. The function was held on 30^th / April. 2011 at HUPGEN Offices in Ndejje.

Thirty (30) students completed and were awarded certificates by the Board Chairman Mr. Lwanga Henry.

Tailoring students.

The tailoring department has fifteen (15) students under the sponsorship of TFSR. These students have greatly improved in there performance.

They started by making button holes, they moved on to another step of using the sewing machine to make straight lines and circles.

They continued and started cutting baby dresses in many different fashions. Students can now make the following:

-             Six different styles of baby dresses.

-             Skirts in three different fashions

-             Shorts with a lastic all round the waist

-             Shorts with fly and pocket

-             Baby suit

-             Different styles of girls dresses

-             A short sleeved shirt and blouse.

Students are now capable of designing different fashions they can put on and sell to raise some income.

5.4 Carpentry students.

The carpentry department has five (5) students under the sponsorship of TFSR. The students are progressing in their work because we have enough wood for them to use while learning. They are capable of taking small wood measurements to produce items like stools, small chairs referred to as “Mwasa Jutte”, and are now moving on to another level of making big chairs.

5.5 Entrepreneurship and life skills training

All the 20 students under the sponsorship of TFSR carry out both of these programmes.

With support from DSW (German foundation for World Population) we have been able to get enough information, education and communication materials.

The students are progressing in both programmes.

We have tried to ease the programmes to be able to meet their levels of education. Some students can’t afford to read and write which is quite a hindrance to their progress but we try to enable them understand by using possible learning aids like posters. Etc.

Visit by Mr. Roger and wife Jean Tripp from UK (Board members –HUPGEN)

On the 29^th / March / 2011, we hosted our friends (HUPGEN board members) from UK, Mr. Roger and Jean Tripp. 

They have done tremendous work to enable us achieve success. They have supported us financially, worked had to link us to TFSR, have advised and guided us on a number of project issues and have always visited us to see our progress.

Visit by a team of Volunteers from TWAM UK

On the 19^th of May 2011, a team of 11 volunteers from TWAM UK led by the Chairman Mr. Bill Dewhurst visited us. They were accompanied by Uganda’s Representative for TWAM Mr. Tumuheirwe Robert.

The Chairman Mr. Bill gave encouraging remarks and thanked us for the hard work.

He also thanked TFSR for the financial support. He promised to continue to cooperate with us to help the upcoming generation.  

Materials support.

We extend special thanks and appreciation to TWAM UK and TFSR for the vocation tools mobilized for our vocation school.

We successfully received these tools from TWAM UK on the 28^th / June / 2011 from their ware house located in Namirembe.

Those from TFSR are expected soon as an email from Mr. Kabaru who is charge.

The table below shows a list of items received from TWAM UK.

NO.	ITEM DESCRIPTION	QTY
1.	Manual Table Top Sewing Machine	3
2.	Baby Lock Electric Sewing Machines	2
3.	Electric Table Top Embroidery Sewing Machine	2
4.	Boxes of material	6
5.	Boxes of Sewing Sundries (wool)	2
6.	Knitting Machines	3
7.	Sacks of Machine Knitting Wool	1
8.	Tradesman Carpentry Kits	3
9.	Circular Saw Bench	1
10.	Electric Router & Drill	1
11.	Hand Held Electric Drill + Access	1
12.	Hand held Sanding Machines	2
13.	Electric Jig Saw	1
14.	Workmates	2
15	Knitting machine books	1
16.	Saws	2

Vote of thanks goes to our board members Roger and Jean Trip, for the financial support of 650,000 Uganda shillings (190 pounds) towards the transportation of these tools.

      Project Expansion,

HUPGEN has continued to expand and has now occupied eight rooms due the expanding project activities.

I am happy to report that the following income generating activities have continued to expand. They include; carpentry, tailoring, knitting, and secretarial services.

Tailoring

We produce items for sale to increase on income; like Nigerian - bitengi, school uniforms, school sweaters and other fashions.

These items have got a ready market within the community and outside.

Due to lack of enough sewing machines for the last six months, we were forced to purchase two new sewing machines to add on those available to able to meet the increasing demand for them.

Carpentry.

We produce furniture like doors, door frames, tables, chairs, beds etc for sale to increase on income earnings.

We have also been able to make enough furniture for our students since we can now afford to buy some wood. We have made chairs, stools and tables used by HUPGEN staff and the students.

Secretarial services and internet.

The market for the secretarial and internet services has continued to grow. This has basically been due to our excellent computer services.

Out of the income raised, we purchased a laminator and a binding machine.

We have also initiated a stationery shop and acquired one hundred (100) party chairs for hiring on functions.   

BACKGROUND OF THE ORGANISATION

        INTRODUCTION

Hope for the Upcoming Generation (HUPGEN) traces its origin in 2004, when a group of youths in Masajja parish Ssabagabo Makindye Subcounty in Wakiso district in Uganda East of Africa came up with the idea of setting up a youth community based organization to act as a voice for the youths and a place where their grievances would be heard and solved.

The name “HOPE FOR THE UPCOMING GENERATION” was derived from the need to restore the general lack of hope that existed especially among the youths and children for their future, by giving them the necessary practical skills for future self sustenance and equip them with life planning skills through peer education programmes.

HUPGEN later realized the need to be registered in order to do its work more effectively and efficiently. Thus in 2006, HUPGEN was registered by the Directorate of community based services, Wakiso district in Uganda, East of Africa, under registration number WCBO / 327 / 06.

The local leadership welcomed welcomed the project due to its tangible contributions since its inception in improving the living conditions of the vulnerable youths and children. The youths are trained in life skills, computer and vocational programs like carpentry, tailoring, knitting, Hair dressing etc.

  VISION

“To realize a healthy and skilled upcoming generation”

MISSION

To provide excellent education services aimed at preparing the youths and children to progressively become profitable, well balanced, morally sounding citizens and ensure that each child gets the best practical skills and academic excellence.

OBJECTIVES.

·    To give maximum protection to orphans and other vulnerable youths and children.

·    To lead these youths and children to academic excellence.

· To equip the youths and children with basic knowledge concerning sustainable development through practical work.

·  To teach the youths and children morals so as to produce law abiding citizens of tomorrow.

·    To teach the youths modern technology through computer lessons for better sustenance in the developing world.

·    To create an impact on the development of the district by producing skilled people who are job creators hence reducing on unemployment. 

      Conclusion:

The project has received a positive response from the community. The skills and knowledge introduced to the youths and children from the project activities carried out have improved the lives and conditions of the community members. Special thanks from the Management and students of HUPGEN for the possible material and financial support from Tools for Self Reliance (TFSR) and Tools with a Mission (TWAM UK) 

We therefore humbly request for more material and financial support from possible support organisations and individuals to help the upcoming generation in Uganda.