My Heart Rocked with Excitement

Mbabazi Beatrice from Rwimi town council, in Bunyangabu District is one of the beneficiaries of the JESE Youth skilling program. “I was born in a family with a very humble background. My family practices peasantry farming and we produce mainly for home consumption.” Mbabazi shares. Among eight siblings, I was fortunate to test secondary education but only to senior 3 due to financial constraints. This forced me to drop out of school, though my dream was to become an Enrolled Nurse.

One afternoon as I was thinking about how my life would turn out; I heard a radio announcement on Voice of Toro inviting youths to apply for a skilling program at Joint Efforts to Save the Environment (JESE).

” I went to the Community Development Officer at Rwimi Town Council to try my luck and I was among the lucky few to be admitted to the program for hairdressing.” Mbabazi remarked.

The training was good, though I had to regularly go back home to check on my child. Jese and WHH were very thoughtful to us. We were given a daily lunch allowance during the training. With a dream to own a beauty shop, I saved up my lunch allowance that would in turn become starting capital immediately after the training.

Following assessment by the Directorate of Industrial Training, I was among the best and graduated. We were profiled and promised starter kits. While waiting for the kits to be delivered by Jese and WWH, I camped at my trainer’s salon to gain additional skills and save more money to enable me to start my salon. WWH, I camped at my trainer’s salon to gain additional skills and save more money to enable me to start my salon.” My heart rocked with excitement when a Jese Officer called to inform me that the kits were procured.” Said Mbabazi. The kits which included; a sitting dryer with its chair, a trolley, a mirror, and a sink were handed over to us at a colorful ceremony at Bunyangabu District.

Being excited to start my salon where I would be my own boss was rather pleasing, though at the same time challenging as I would sit for long waiting to receive my first customer to serve. I received my first customer after two weeks and I have never looked back!

  ” I can now pay for my rent conveniently and also provide for my personal needs and those of my child.”