Step Forward Uganda – Empowering Rural Youth Through Craft Shoe Making
Date Published:
1. Background:
Uganda's rural areas are home to a large and growing youth population, yet many face unemployment, underemployment, and limited access to vocational training. Traditional crafts like shoe making present untapped potential for sustainable self-employment, income generation, and cultural preservation. By equipping youth with practical skills and business acumen, this project aims to combat poverty and improve rural livelihoods.
2. Problem Statement:
Rural youth in Uganda lack access to skills training and entrepreneurial support, leaving them dependent on low-paying informal labor or idle. This contributes to persistent poverty, migration to urban centers, and increased social vulnerability.
3. Goal:
To empower rural youth in Uganda by providing skills in craft shoe making, entrepreneurship training, and startup support, leading to employment creation and improved household incomes.
4. Objectives:
• Train 100+ rural youth (ages 18–30) in artisanal shoe making.
• Provide entrepreneurship and business skills training.
• Support trainees with start-up kits and market linkages.
• Increase household income and reduce unemployment in targeted communities.
5. Key Activities:
• Community sensitization and youth recruitment
• Hands-on training in shoe design, production, and finishing
• Workshops on marketing, financial literacy, and business planning
• Provision of starter kits (tools and materials)
• Market access through exhibitions and local trade partnerships
6. Expected Results:
• At least 80% of trained youth initiate shoe-making businesses or gain employment.
• Increased income and reduced poverty in 100+ rural households.
• Creation of youth-led artisan cooperatives for ongoing support and growth.
Our Wish
To empower the forgotten population and by supporting this initiative, you will be investing in talent, resilience, and the boundless creativity of Uganda’s next generation.
Uganda's rural areas are home to a large and growing youth population, yet many face unemployment, underemployment, and limited access to vocational training. Traditional crafts like shoe making present untapped potential for sustainable self-employment, income generation, and cultural preservation. By equipping youth with practical skills and business acumen, this project aims to combat poverty and improve rural livelihoods.
2. Problem Statement:
Rural youth in Uganda lack access to skills training and entrepreneurial support, leaving them dependent on low-paying informal labor or idle. This contributes to persistent poverty, migration to urban centers, and increased social vulnerability.
3. Goal:
To empower rural youth in Uganda by providing skills in craft shoe making, entrepreneurship training, and startup support, leading to employment creation and improved household incomes.
4. Objectives:
• Train 100+ rural youth (ages 18–30) in artisanal shoe making.
• Provide entrepreneurship and business skills training.
• Support trainees with start-up kits and market linkages.
• Increase household income and reduce unemployment in targeted communities.
5. Key Activities:
• Community sensitization and youth recruitment
• Hands-on training in shoe design, production, and finishing
• Workshops on marketing, financial literacy, and business planning
• Provision of starter kits (tools and materials)
• Market access through exhibitions and local trade partnerships
6. Expected Results:
• At least 80% of trained youth initiate shoe-making businesses or gain employment.
• Increased income and reduced poverty in 100+ rural households.
• Creation of youth-led artisan cooperatives for ongoing support and growth.
Our Wish
To empower the forgotten population and by supporting this initiative, you will be investing in talent, resilience, and the boundless creativity of Uganda’s next generation.
